CVE-2002-0282 in DCP-Portal
Summary
by MITRE
DCP-Portal 3.7 through 4.5 allows remote attackers to obtain the physical path of the server via (1) a direct request to add_user.php, or via an invalid new_language parameter in (2) contents.php, (3) categories.php, or (4) files.php, which leaks the path in an error message.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0282 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within DCP-Portal versions 3.7 through 4.5 that exposes the physical server path through multiple attack vectors. This vulnerability falls under the category of path disclosure vulnerabilities, which are classified as CWE-209 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically addressing the exposure of sensitive information through error messages. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms within the web application's core components, creating an avenue for remote attackers to extract sensitive system information without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through four distinct attack vectors that all exploit the same underlying weakness in the application's error handling. The first vector involves direct access to the add_user.php script where a remote attacker can trigger an error condition that reveals the server's physical path. The remaining three vectors leverage the contents.php, categories.php, and files.php scripts respectively, all of which accept an invalid new_language parameter that causes the application to generate error messages containing the absolute server path. This demonstrates a fundamental lack of proper exception handling and input sanitization within the application's core functionality, allowing attackers to harvest system information through malformed parameter inputs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked server paths provide attackers with crucial reconnaissance data that can be leveraged in subsequent attacks. The exposed physical paths can be used to craft more sophisticated attacks such as local file inclusion exploits, directory traversal attempts, or to map the server's file structure for further exploitation. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the T1083 technique for discovering file and directory permissions, and the T1068 technique for exploiting privilege escalation opportunities that may arise from the leaked path information. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with the foundation for more advanced attack vectors by revealing the application's underlying file system structure.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe given that it affects multiple core application scripts and can be exploited without requiring any authentication credentials. The vulnerability exists due to the application's failure to properly validate user input parameters and handle error conditions gracefully, resulting in the exposure of sensitive server path information in error messages. This type of vulnerability is often classified as a low-effort, high-impact attack vector that can be easily automated and exploited by threat actors with minimal technical expertise. Organizations running affected versions of DCP-Portal should consider this vulnerability as a critical security concern that requires immediate remediation through patch updates or code modifications that properly sanitize input parameters and prevent error message generation containing sensitive path information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation, proper error handling procedures, and sanitization of user-supplied parameters across all application components. The most effective remediation involves updating to patched versions of DCP-Portal that address the input validation weaknesses and error handling flaws that enable path disclosure. Additionally, implementing proper logging mechanisms and security monitoring can help detect exploitation attempts, while network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and security headers to prevent direct access to vulnerable scripts and reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and proper error handling in web applications, particularly regarding the exposure of system information through error messages.