CVE-2004-0033 in PHPGEDVIEW
Summary
by MITRE
admin.php in PHPGEDVIEW 2.61 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via an action parameter with a phpinfo command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0033 represents a critical information disclosure flaw in PHPGEDVIEW version 2.61, specifically within the admin.php script. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle user-supplied parameters. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the action parameter to execute arbitrary phpinfo commands, thereby exposing sensitive system information to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of user input, which creates an injection vector that can be exploited without authentication or authorization.
This security weakness falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities and aligns with CWE-200, which defines weaknesses related to information exposure. The vulnerability operates by accepting the action parameter directly from user input without proper validation or sanitization, allowing malicious actors to inject commands that the application then executes. The phpinfo command reveals detailed configuration information about the PHP environment, including installed modules, system paths, configuration settings, and potentially sensitive environment variables that could aid attackers in further exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed system details can significantly aid attackers in planning more sophisticated attacks. The phpinfo output typically reveals database connection strings, file paths, server configurations, and PHP module versions that may contain known vulnerabilities. This information exposure creates a substantial risk for systems running PHPGEDVIEW 2.61, as attackers can leverage the disclosed information to identify potential attack vectors, target specific system components, or discover additional vulnerabilities within the application or underlying infrastructure. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or prior authentication.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) as attackers can use the disclosed information to plan more targeted attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper parameter sanitization and access control mechanisms. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive network segmentation, deploying web application firewalls, and ensuring that all applications are regularly updated to address known vulnerabilities. The remediation approach requires immediate patching of the affected PHPGEDVIEW version, implementation of proper input validation, and establishment of monitoring mechanisms to detect and prevent similar injection attacks. Additionally, security awareness training for developers should emphasize the importance of validating all user inputs and avoiding direct execution of user-supplied commands or parameters to prevent such information disclosure vulnerabilities from occurring in the future.