Source: cve@mitre.org
Hot or Not Clone has insufficient access control for producing and reading database backups, which allows remote attackers to obtain the administrator username and password via a direct request to control/backup/backup.php, which generates a backup/dump/backup.sql file that can be downloaded via a direct request to control/downloadfile.php.
Hot or Not Clone suffers from a critical vulnerability allowing remote attackers to gain administrator credentials by downloading a database backup. This flaw enables complete system compromise, granting attackers full control over the application and potentially the underlying server, leading to data breaches and system takeover.
Step 1: Direct Request to Backup Script: The attacker sends a direct HTTP request to control/backup/backup.php. This script, due to insufficient access control, executes and generates a database backup file named backup.sql within the backup/dump/ directory.
The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper access control on the backup functionality within the Hot or Not Clone application. Specifically, the control/backup/backup.php script generates a database backup (backup.sql) without requiring authentication or authorization. This file contains sensitive information, including the administrator's username and password, stored in plain text. The control/downloadfile.php script then allows for the direct download of this backup file. The root cause is the absence of any checks to verify the user's privileges before generating and allowing access to the database backup. This design flaw exposes sensitive data to unauthorized access.
While no specific APTs are directly linked to this CVE, the nature of the vulnerability makes it attractive to a wide range of attackers, including those seeking to establish a foothold for further exploitation. This vulnerability could be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. Not on CISA KEV.
Monitor web server access logs for requests to control/backup/backup.php and control/downloadfile.php.
Analyze network traffic for HTTP GET requests targeting these specific PHP files.
Implement file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to the backup.sql file or the backup/dump/ directory.
Review web server logs for suspicious user-agent strings or unusual request patterns.
Use a web application firewall (WAF) to block requests to these specific URLs if the application is no longer in use.
Implement proper authentication and authorization for the backup functionality. Require administrator credentials before generating or downloading backups.
Restrict access to the control/ directory using web server configuration (e.g., .htaccess files or server-level configurations).
Disable the backup functionality if it is not required.
Regularly review and update the application code to address security vulnerabilities.
Implement a strong password policy for administrator accounts.
Consider using a database backup solution that encrypts the backups and stores them securely.
Upgrade to a patched version of the Hot or Not Clone application or migrate to a more secure alternative.