CVE-2004-1509 in Webcalendar
Summary
by MITRE
validate.php in WebCalendar allows remote attackers to gain sensitive information via an invalid encoded_login parameter, which reveals the full path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1509 affects WebCalendar's validate.php script, which is a critical component in the web calendar application's authentication and validation processes. This issue represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that occurs when the application fails to properly handle malformed input parameters. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an attacker submits an invalid encoded_login parameter to the validate.php endpoint, causing the system to generate an error message that inadvertently exposes the full server path. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper error handling and sensitive data exposure, which are fundamental security weaknesses that can provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance information.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from the application's lack of proper input validation and error handling mechanisms within the validate.php script. When the encoded_login parameter is malformed or invalid, the system does not implement adequate sanitization or error suppression measures. Instead, it allows the raw error message to be returned to the attacker, which contains the complete server path where the application is installed. This occurs because the application's error reporting mechanism is configured to display detailed debugging information to end users, which is a common security misconfiguration that violates the principle of least privilege and secure error handling practices. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-209, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through error messages, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent the disclosure of internal system information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical system reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for subsequent attacks. The full server path disclosure enables attackers to understand the application's directory structure, which can aid in identifying potential file inclusion vulnerabilities, directory traversal issues, or other path-related weaknesses within the web application. This information can also help attackers craft more targeted attacks against specific components of the system or identify the underlying operating system and web server configuration. The vulnerability can be exploited through simple HTTP requests without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it allows any remote attacker to gather sensitive information about the target system. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves exploiting weaknesses in input validation and error handling to gather system information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1509 should focus on implementing proper error handling and input validation mechanisms within the WebCalendar application. The primary fix involves modifying the validate.php script to suppress detailed error messages and instead return generic error responses that do not disclose system paths or internal application details. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation that properly sanitizes all user-supplied parameters, including the encoded_login parameter, before processing them within the application. Additionally, the application should be configured to log detailed error information internally while returning minimal information to end users through error responses. This approach aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and follows the principle of defense in depth by ensuring that sensitive information is not exposed through error handling mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can monitor for suspicious parameter patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.