CVE-2004-1226 in Sugar Sales
Summary
by MITRE
SugarCRM Sugar Sales 2.0.1c and earlier allows remote attackers to gain sensitive information via certain requests to scripts that contain invalid input, which reveals the path in an error message, as demonstrated using phprint.php with an empty module parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1226 affects SugarCRM Sugar Sales version 2.0.1c and earlier, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes system paths through error messages. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of invalid input parameters within specific script files, particularly phprint.php, where the absence of proper input validation leads to the exposure of sensitive filesystem paths. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper error handling and input sanitization that has been documented in numerous security frameworks and standards.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's failure to validate the module parameter in phprint.php, allowing remote attackers to craft malicious requests that trigger error responses containing the full filesystem path. This occurs because the application does not properly sanitize user input before processing it, leading to the inclusion of system paths in error messages that are subsequently returned to the attacker. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any remote attacker to gather intelligence about the target system's configuration. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed paths provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used for further exploitation attempts. Attackers can use the disclosed paths to understand the application's directory structure, potentially identifying other vulnerable files or directories that may contain sensitive information. This information disclosure can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as path traversal, local file inclusion, or other privilege escalation techniques that rely on understanding the target system's layout. The vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture and demonstrates poor secure coding practices that have been widely recognized as critical issues in software development lifecycle processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1226 should prioritize immediate application updates to versions that address the input validation issues in phprint.php and similar vulnerable scripts. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-provided parameters before processing, ensuring that invalid inputs are handled gracefully without exposing system information. The implementation of proper error handling procedures that prevent the disclosure of internal system paths in error messages represents a critical defensive measure. Security configurations should include the deployment of web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious parameter patterns, while also implementing proper logging and monitoring to identify exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, ensuring that the application follows secure coding practices as outlined in industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.