CVE-2003-1101 in CyberDOCS
Summary
by MITRE
Hummingbird CyberDOCS 3.5.1, 3.9, and 4.0 allows remote attackers to obtain the full path of the DM Web Server via invalid login credentials, which reveals the path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
This vulnerability resides in the Hummingbird CyberDOCS web application server software versions 3.5.1, 3.9, and 4.0, representing a classic path disclosure flaw that directly exposes system internals to remote attackers. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes invalid login credentials and returns detailed error messages containing the full server path structure. This type of information disclosure represents a fundamental security weakness that violates multiple security principles and provides attackers with crucial reconnaissance data for subsequent exploitation attempts. The flaw specifically affects the authentication handling mechanism within the DM Web Server component, where proper error message sanitization fails to prevent the exposure of sensitive path information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the authentication subsystem. When an attacker submits invalid credentials to the login interface, the system generates an error response that inadvertently includes the complete file system path where the application is installed and executed. This occurs because the application framework does not properly sanitize error messages before returning them to the client, allowing path information to leak through the HTTP response. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message" and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and defense in depth. From an operational perspective, this flaw directly enables attackers to map the server filesystem structure and potentially identify other vulnerable components or misconfigurations within the application environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical reconnaissance data that significantly reduces the effort required for subsequent attacks. With knowledge of the full server path, an attacker can better understand the application architecture, potentially identify weak file permissions, locate configuration files containing sensitive data, and plan more sophisticated exploitation techniques. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, Information Discovery, as it enables attackers to gather detailed information about the target system's file structure and directory layout. Additionally, this path disclosure can serve as a foundation for more advanced attacks such as local file inclusion vulnerabilities or directory traversal exploits, where the disclosed path information helps attackers craft more effective attack vectors. The exposure of the DM Web Server path specifically indicates that attackers could potentially target the underlying web server configuration, application code locations, and other system components that might be more vulnerable to exploitation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including proper error message handling that does not expose system paths, implementing input validation controls, and ensuring that all error responses contain generic messages regardless of the authentication state. Security hardening should include configuring the web server to suppress detailed error messages, implementing proper logging of authentication attempts, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar path disclosure vulnerabilities. The remediation approach should follow industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, particularly focusing on secure error handling practices and input validation controls. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other components of the application stack, as this type of information disclosure often indicates broader security configuration issues within the overall system architecture.