CVE-2000-0385 is a vulnerability affecting FileMaker Pro 5 Web Companion, a component of FileMaker Pro 5 that facilitates web-based database interactions. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass field-level database security restrictions by exploiting the XML publishing or email capabilities of the Web Companion. Specifically, attackers can access or modify data fields that should be protected by field-level security controls without proper authorization. This bypass occurs because the Web Companion does not adequately enforce field-level security when handling XML data requests or email-based data interactions, allowing unauthorized data manipulation or disclosure. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, making it a significant risk for exposed systems. The CVSS v2 score is 5.0 (medium severity), reflecting that while confidentiality is not impacted, integrity can be compromised due to unauthorized data modification. There is no patch available for this vulnerability, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, likely due to the age of the product and its declining usage. However, systems still running FileMaker Pro 5 Web Companion remain vulnerable to this issue.

For European organizations using FileMaker Pro 5 Web Companion, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized data modification at the field level within databases accessible via the web. Although confidentiality is not directly impacted, the integrity of critical business data could be compromised, potentially leading to corrupted records, inaccurate reporting, or unauthorized changes in business processes. This can affect sectors relying on accurate database information such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and public administration. The lack of authentication requirement and remote exploitability increase the risk, especially for systems exposed to the internet or untrusted networks. Given the age of the software, organizations still using this version may be operating legacy systems with outdated security practices, increasing overall exposure. The absence of a patch means mitigation must rely on compensating controls. The impact on availability is minimal, but data integrity issues can have downstream effects on operational reliability and compliance with data governance regulations prevalent in Europe, such as GDPR.

Since no patch is available for CVE-2000-0385, European organizations should implement specific compensating controls: 1) Isolate or remove FileMaker Pro 5 Web Companion instances from internet-facing environments to prevent remote exploitation. 2) Restrict network access to the Web Companion service using firewalls or network segmentation, allowing only trusted internal IP addresses. 3) Disable or restrict XML publishing and email capabilities within the Web Companion configuration to limit attack vectors. 4) Monitor database access logs for unusual or unauthorized field-level data modifications to detect potential exploitation attempts. 5) Plan and execute an upgrade strategy to a supported and patched version of FileMaker Pro or migrate to alternative database solutions with robust security controls. 6) Conduct regular security assessments and audits of legacy systems to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. 7) Educate IT staff on the risks associated with legacy software and enforce strict change management policies to prevent unauthorized modifications.