CVE-2003-1548 in MyABraCaDaWeb
Summary
by MITRE
MyABraCaDaWeb 1.0.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via an invalid IDAdmin or other parameter, which reveals the installation path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1548 affects MyABraCaDaWeb version 1.0.2 and earlier, representing a classic information disclosure flaw that exposes system internals to remote attackers. This vulnerability resides within the application's error handling mechanism where invalid parameter inputs trigger descriptive error messages that inadvertently reveal critical system information. The specific parameters affected include IDAdmin and other administrative parameters, which when manipulated incorrectly, produce error responses containing installation path details. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper error handling as defined by CWE-209, where error messages contain sensitive information that should remain hidden from unauthorized users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers submit malformed or invalid parameters to the web application's administrative interfaces. When the application processes these invalid inputs, it generates error responses that include the full installation path of the application on the server filesystem. This exposure creates a significant information disclosure risk as attackers can obtain directory structures, file paths, and potentially other system-specific details that aid in subsequent attack phases. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and error handling practices that violate fundamental security principles established in the OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly weakens the security posture of affected systems by providing attackers with crucial reconnaissance information. The exposed installation paths can be leveraged to understand the application's deployment structure, potentially revealing the operating system type, directory permissions, and application architecture. Attackers can use this information to craft more sophisticated attacks, including directory traversal exploits, path-based privilege escalation attempts, or to identify other potential vulnerabilities within the same system. The vulnerability also contributes to the ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) by providing automated means to gather system information.
The remediation approach for CVE-2003-1548 requires immediate implementation of proper error handling mechanisms that sanitize all user inputs and suppress sensitive information in error responses. Organizations should implement generic error messages that do not reveal system internals or installation details to end users. This involves configuring the web application to log detailed error information internally while presenting only generic messages to users. The fix should include input validation that properly handles invalid parameters without generating descriptive error messages. Additionally, security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that error pages do not contain system-specific information that could aid attackers in their reconnaissance activities. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper error handling as outlined in security frameworks like ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST SP 800-53. The implementation of these mitigations should be part of comprehensive security testing procedures including penetration testing and code review processes to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities across the entire application stack.