CVE-2004-0729 in phpBB
Summary
by MITRE
PhpBB 2.0.8 allows remote attackers to gain sensitive information via an invalid (1) category_rows parameter to index.php, (2) faq parameter to faq.php, or (3) ranksrow parameter to profile.php, which reveal the full path in an error message.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2018
This vulnerability in PhpBB version 2.0.8 represents a classic information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system details to remote attackers. The issue occurs when the application fails to properly validate input parameters, specifically category_rows in index.php, faq in faq.php, and ranksrow in profile.php. When these parameters contain invalid values, the application generates error messages that inadvertently reveal the full server path where the application is installed. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category for exposure of sensitive information and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 for exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates poor input validation and error handling practices within the PhpBB codebase. When invalid parameters are passed to these specific script endpoints, the application's error reporting mechanism does not sanitize the output before displaying it to users. Instead of gracefully handling the invalid input or providing generic error messages, the system outputs detailed error information including the complete file path structure. This exposure of system paths creates significant operational risks for attackers who can use this information to plan further attacks against the server environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical reconnaissance data that can be used in subsequent attack phases. The full server path disclosure enables attackers to understand the application's directory structure, potentially identifying other files or directories that may be accessible through path traversal attacks. This information can also be combined with other reconnaissance efforts to identify the operating system, web server configuration, and potentially other applications running on the same server. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability can be leveraged as part of a broader reconnaissance strategy to map the target environment before attempting more sophisticated attacks.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of mitigation for this vulnerability. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all parameters passed to these scripts, ensuring that invalid inputs are handled gracefully without exposing system information. Additionally, error reporting should be configured to suppress detailed path information in production environments, following the principle of least privilege in error handling. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious parameter patterns, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar input validation flaws in other application components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper error handling as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other industry security standards.