CVE-2003-1371 in Nuked-klan
Summary
by MITRE
Nuked-Klan 1.3b, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive server information via an op parameter set to phpinfo for the (1) Team, (2) News, or (3) Liens modules.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1371 affects Nuked-Klan version 1.3b and potentially earlier releases, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive server configuration details to remote attackers. This vulnerability resides within the web application's handling of user input parameters, specifically the op parameter that controls module execution paths. The flaw manifests when attackers manipulate the op parameter to phpinfo, which triggers the execution of PHP's built-in phpinfo() function within three distinct modules: Team, News, and Liens. This represents a classic example of insecure parameter handling where user-supplied input directly influences server-side code execution without proper sanitization or validation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of input validation and access control mechanisms within the Nuked-Klan application framework. When an attacker sets the op parameter to phpinfo, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize this input before passing it to the server-side processing layer. This creates an information disclosure scenario where sensitive server configuration data, including PHP settings, environment variables, and potentially system information, becomes accessible to unauthorized users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple modules within the same application, indicating a systemic flaw in the parameter handling mechanism rather than an isolated issue. This aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a common root cause for information disclosure vulnerabilities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability provides attackers with substantial reconnaissance data that can be used for further exploitation attempts. The phpinfo() output reveals critical information including PHP version, configuration settings, loaded extensions, environment variables, and potentially server paths that could aid in crafting more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can leverage this information to identify potential attack vectors, understand the server environment, and determine if additional vulnerabilities exist within the system. The remote nature of this exploit means that attackers do not require physical access or local system privileges to obtain this sensitive information, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle sensitive data or operate in security-sensitive environments. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation).
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms throughout the application's parameter handling processes. Organizations should implement strict parameter validation that rejects or sanitizes any input attempting to invoke system functions like phpinfo() or similar diagnostic utilities. The fix should involve modifying the application code to validate the op parameter against a whitelist of allowed values and reject any input that attempts to execute system-level functions. Additionally, comprehensive logging and monitoring should be implemented to detect and alert on suspicious parameter usage patterns. This vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper access controls, as outlined in OWASP Top 10 security guidelines, particularly focusing on input validation and information disclosure prevention. The remediation process should also include a thorough code review to identify and address similar patterns across other modules within the application that might be vulnerable to similar attacks.