Re: Microsoft Access 97 Stores Database Password as Plaintext

From: Fernald, Brian (FernaldBat_private)
Date: Fri Feb 05 1999 - 07:11:19 PST

  • Next message: Sozni: "Re: Microsoft Access 97 Stores Database Password as Plaintext"

    ->At this point, didn't you have to enter the password of the first mdb to
    get access to it?
    ->
    
    Only at the time of creating the link table do you need to know the
    password.  That is why it is stored in the second 'linked' .mdb file. (or so
    I assume)
    
    
    ->If not, then it seems like that's _actually_ the bug: you got
    ->access to a password protected database without having to know the
    password.
    
    which seems to be  the case.
    
    ->Finally, why wouldn't ACLs be used to protect the database instead of
    passwords?
    
    I tested it with varying permissions to both mdb files. Applying Read Only
    permissions on the mdb file still allowed you to view the plaintext
    passwords, when applying No Access it would not work (As it should) however,
    that would effectively render the linked table useless.
    
    Mileage may vary with using ACL's here though, if a user has a legitimate
    need to view the data in the linked table (but not modify it) then they must
    have some access to the file.  Being able to view the password would allow
    the user to elevate their privileges and allow them to modify the data.
    
    You can also set permissions within Access to the various database objects,
    I haven't had time to investigate their impact on this tho.
    
    
    I am also not an Access Guru.. ;-)
    
    bf.
    



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