CVE-2000-1240 in AnyPortal PHP
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in siteman.php3 in AnyPortal(php) before 22 APR 00 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unknown attack vectors, which reveal the absolute path. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-1240 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within AnyPortal php software versions prior to April 22, 2000. This issue specifically affects the siteman.php3 component and demonstrates a classic path disclosure vulnerability that has been documented in various security frameworks including CWE-209. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to obtain sensitive system information through unspecified attack vectors that ultimately reveal the absolute file path of the web application. Such path disclosure vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous as they provide attackers with crucial information about the underlying system architecture and file structure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper error handling and insufficient input validation within the siteman.php3 script. When the application processes certain requests, it inadvertently exposes the absolute file path of the server installation through error messages or response data. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of information disclosure weaknesses and aligns with CWE-209 which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through error messages. The flaw operates at the application layer and does not require authentication or specific privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for public-facing web applications.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for any organization running affected AnyPortal versions. The exposure of absolute file paths provides attackers with detailed knowledge about the server configuration, directory structure, and potentially sensitive system information that could be leveraged for further attacks. This information disclosure could facilitate more sophisticated exploitation techniques including directory traversal attacks, privilege escalation attempts, or targeted attacks against specific system components. The vulnerability represents a fundamental weakness in the application's security posture and could compromise the confidentiality of the system's internal structure.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves sending crafted requests to the siteman.php3 endpoint to trigger error responses that contain the absolute path information. Attackers may also employ automated scanning tools to identify such vulnerabilities across multiple targets. This type of attack vector is commonly catalogued in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the information gathering phase, specifically targeting system information discovery techniques. Organizations should note that path disclosure vulnerabilities often serve as initial footholds for more complex attack chains, making prompt remediation essential.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-1240 involve immediate patching of the AnyPortal software to a version that addresses the path disclosure issue. System administrators should also implement proper error handling mechanisms that prevent sensitive information from being exposed in error messages. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper error handling and input validation in web applications, principles that are fundamental to secure coding practices and align with various security standards including those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and ensure that error handling is properly configured to prevent information leakage.