CVE-2002-2288 in Site Server
Summary
by MITRE
Mambo Site Server 4.0.11 allows remote attackers to obtain the physical path of the server via an HTTP request to index.php with a parameter that does not exist, which causes the path to be leaked in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2288 represents a classic information disclosure flaw in the Mambo Site Server 4.0.11 web application framework. This issue manifests when the system processes HTTP requests containing non-existent parameters, specifically targeting the index.php script. The flaw operates at the application level and demonstrates poor error handling practices that inadvertently expose sensitive system information to remote attackers.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the web server's response to malformed requests. When an attacker sends an HTTP request to index.php with an undefined parameter, the Mambo Site Server fails to properly sanitize or handle the error condition. Instead of returning a generic error message, the system reveals the physical file path where the application is installed, effectively leaking directory structure information to unauthorized parties. This behavior stems from inadequate input validation and error message generation within the application's codebase.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant security risks to organizations running the affected Mambo Site Server version. The leaked physical path information provides attackers with crucial reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for further exploitation attempts. Knowledge of the server's directory structure enables attackers to craft more targeted attacks, potentially leading to directory traversal vulnerabilities, local file inclusion issues, or other path-related exploits. The information disclosure occurs without requiring authentication or specific privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with network access to the vulnerable system.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure through error messages, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1212 - Exploitation for Credential Access. The exposure of physical paths represents a fundamental security misconfiguration that violates the principle of least privilege and information hiding. Organizations utilizing this version of Mambo Site Server should consider this vulnerability as a critical component of their overall security posture, particularly in environments where multiple applications share similar error handling patterns. The impact extends beyond immediate information disclosure, as the leaked path information can facilitate more sophisticated attacks and reduce the effectiveness of security controls that rely on obscurity.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the Mambo Site Server to a version that properly handles error conditions without revealing system paths. Additionally, organizations should implement proper input validation mechanisms and customize error messages to prevent path leakage. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the impact of such vulnerabilities, while regular security assessments should verify that no similar information disclosure issues exist within the application stack. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of thorough error handling implementation in web applications.