CVE-2004-1422 in Autopilot
Summary
by MITRE
WHM AutoPilot 2.4.6.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to gain sensitive information via phpinfo, which reveals php settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1422 affects WHM AutoPilot version 2.4.6.5 and earlier, representing a significant security flaw that exposes sensitive system information to remote attackers. This issue arises from the improper handling of phpinfo functionality within the web-based administration interface, creating an information disclosure vulnerability that can be exploited without authentication. The flaw specifically enables attackers to access detailed php configuration settings and system information through a simple remote request, potentially providing adversaries with critical data about the server environment and PHP implementation details.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the lack of proper access controls and input validation within the WHM AutoPilot application. When attackers access certain phpinfo endpoints, the application fails to restrict access based on user authentication status or privileges, allowing any remote user to retrieve comprehensive PHP configuration data including system paths, enabled extensions, security settings, and potentially sensitive environment variables. This exposure of PHP configuration details can serve as a valuable information gathering step for attackers planning more sophisticated attacks against the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1422 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked PHP settings can significantly aid attackers in crafting targeted exploits and identifying potential attack vectors. The exposed configuration data may reveal the presence of debug modes, file upload capabilities, database connection details, or other sensitive settings that could be leveraged in subsequent attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which categorizes information exposure issues, and represents a classic example of how insufficient access controls can lead to unauthorized data disclosure in web applications. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.001, which involves data from information repositories, demonstrating how attackers can systematically gather intelligence from exposed system information.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to WHM AutoPilot versions that address this issue, implementing proper access controls for phpinfo endpoints, and disabling unnecessary phpinfo functionality in production environments. Security configurations should include restrictive access policies that prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive system information. Additionally, network-level controls such as firewall rules and web application firewalls can be deployed to block access to phpinfo endpoints and other potentially dangerous configuration interfaces. The remediation process should also involve comprehensive security auditing of all web applications to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities that could be exploited in the same manner. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect and alert on unauthorized access attempts to sensitive system information, as this vulnerability could be part of a broader reconnaissance effort by threat actors.