CVE-2003-1550 in Xoops
Summary
by MITRE
XOOPS 2.0, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via an invalid xoopsOption 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-2003-1550 affects XOOPS content management systems version 2.0 and potentially earlier releases, representing a significant information disclosure flaw that exposes system internals to remote attackers. This vulnerability resides within the application's error handling mechanism and specifically targets the xoopsOption parameter processing. When an attacker submits a malformed or invalid xoopsOption parameter to the system, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before processing it, resulting in the exposure of the server's installation path within error messages generated by the system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which categorizes improper error handling that leads to information disclosure, and also relates to CWE-425, which covers direct request manipulation that can cause information leakage. The flaw operates through the application's parameter validation process where the xoopsOption parameter is not properly sanitized or checked for validity before being used in system operations. When the parameter contains unexpected values, the system generates error messages that inadvertently include the absolute file path where XOOPS is installed on the server. This path disclosure represents a critical security risk as it provides attackers with detailed information about the server's directory structure, which can be leveraged for further exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it significantly weakens the overall security posture of affected systems. Attackers who exploit this vulnerability gain knowledge of the installation path, which can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks including directory traversal attempts, file inclusion exploits, or targeted attacks against specific system components. The exposure of the installation path enables threat actors to craft more precise and effective attack vectors, as they now possess information about the system's file structure that would otherwise remain hidden. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that do not implement proper input validation and error handling mechanisms, making it a common issue in legacy systems that have not been properly updated or secured.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2003-1550 should focus on implementing robust input validation and error handling practices throughout the application. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied parameters, including the xoopsOption parameter, before they are processed by the application. This includes implementing strict parameter validation that rejects malformed or unexpected input values rather than allowing them to trigger error conditions. Additionally, the application should be configured to suppress detailed error messages from being displayed to end users, instead logging these errors internally while presenting generic error messages to users. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable systems, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar input validation and error handling vulnerabilities across their entire application portfolio. The remediation efforts should follow established security frameworks such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure coding practices, ensuring that error handling mechanisms do not inadvertently expose system internals.