CVE-2004-1528 in PHP-Nuke Event Calendar
Summary
by MITRE
The Event Calendar module 2.13 for PHP-Nuke allows remote attackers to gain sensitive information via an HTTP request to (1) config.php, (2) index.php, or (3) submit.php, which reveal the full path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1528 affects the Event Calendar module version 2.13 within the PHP-Nuke content management system, representing a classic information disclosure flaw that exposes system paths to remote attackers. This vulnerability resides in the module's error handling mechanisms where specific PHP files fail to properly sanitize error messages, leading to the exposure of sensitive filesystem paths. The affected files include config.php, index.php, and submit.php, which when accessed through malformed HTTP requests trigger error conditions that inadvertently reveal the complete server path structure to unauthorized users. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of Information Exposure and represents a significant security risk as it provides attackers with critical system information that can be leveraged for subsequent attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts specific HTTP requests to the vulnerable module files, causing the system to generate error messages that contain the full filesystem path where PHP-Nuke is installed. This path disclosure happens because the module does not implement proper error handling or output sanitization, allowing raw error messages to be displayed directly to the client. The exposure of absolute paths provides attackers with knowledge of the server's directory structure, which can be used to understand the system configuration, locate other potentially vulnerable components, and plan more sophisticated attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1592 (Gather Victim Host Information) as it enables adversaries to collect system information through information disclosure.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1528 extends beyond simple path exposure, as it creates a foundation for more serious attacks by providing attackers with system layout information. Once the full path is known, attackers can potentially exploit other vulnerabilities that might exist within the same directory structure or use the path information to craft more targeted attacks against specific system components. The vulnerability also violates security best practices by exposing system internals through error messages, which should never contain sensitive information in production environments. Organizations running affected PHP-Nuke installations with the vulnerable Event Calendar module face increased risk of privilege escalation attacks, directory traversal attempts, and other exploitation techniques that rely on knowledge of the underlying system structure. This information disclosure vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper error handling and input validation in web applications, as it represents a fundamental security misconfiguration that can be exploited without requiring advanced technical skills.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include implementing proper error handling mechanisms that prevent sensitive information from being exposed in error messages, applying the latest security patches from the PHP-Nuke development team, and ensuring that error messages are logged securely rather than displayed to end users. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can filter out suspicious requests and monitor for patterns associated with path disclosure attempts. The fix typically involves modifying the vulnerable PHP files to either suppress error messages or sanitize them before display, ensuring that no system paths are revealed during normal operation or error conditions. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities across the entire application stack, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security configuration issues that may affect other components of the system.