CVE-2004-1571 in AJ-Fork
Summary
by MITRE
AJ-Fork 167 allows remote attackers to gain sensitive information via a direct request to (1) auto-acronyms.php, (2) auto-archive.php, (3) ount-article-views.php, (4) kses.php, (5) custom-quick-tags.php, (6) disable-all-comments.php, (7) easy-date-format.php, (8) enable-disable-comments.php, (9) filter-by-author.php, (10) format-switcher.php, (11) long-to-short.php, (12) prospective-posting.php, or (13) sort-by-xfield.php, which displays the full path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1571 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the AJ-Fork 167 web application framework. This vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of error messages, specifically when processing direct requests to various PHP scripts within the system. The affected files include auto-acronyms.php, auto-archive.php, ount-article-views.php, kses.php, custom-quick-tags.php, disable-all-comments.php, easy-date-format.php, enable-disable-comments.php, filter-by-author.php, format-switcher.php, long-to-short.php, prospective-posting.php, and sort-by-xfield.php. These scripts are part of a content management or blogging system that appears to be designed for wordpress or similar platforms.
The technical flaw manifests when remote attackers submit direct requests to these specific PHP files without proper authentication or validation. The system fails to sanitize error messages properly, resulting in the exposure of the full server path through error output. This path disclosure occurs because the application does not implement proper error handling mechanisms that would prevent sensitive filesystem information from being revealed to unauthorized users. The vulnerability falls under CWE-209, which specifically addresses error messages containing sensitive information, and represents a classic case of information exposure that can be leveraged by attackers to gain deeper insights into the target system architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with crucial information about the server's filesystem structure, which can be used for subsequent exploitation attempts. The full path disclosure allows malicious actors to understand the application's directory structure, potentially revealing file locations, server configurations, and other sensitive data that could aid in further attacks. This information can be particularly valuable for attackers planning to exploit other vulnerabilities within the same system, as it provides them with precise knowledge of file locations and potentially reveals the underlying operating system and server configuration. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad by exposing system information that should remain private.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of mitigation to address this vulnerability. The primary defense involves proper error handling implementation that prevents sensitive information from being exposed in error messages. This includes configuring the web server and application to suppress detailed error information in production environments, implementing custom error pages that do not reveal system paths, and ensuring that all PHP scripts properly validate input and handle exceptions without exposing internal system details. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block direct requests to these specific scripts, as well as conducting regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system. The mitigation strategy aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which focuses on exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities, and emphasizes the importance of proper input validation and error handling as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms for these scripts would further reduce the attack surface and prevent unauthorized access to potentially sensitive functionality.