CVE-2004-1600 in Web Portal
Summary
by MITRE
index.php in CoolPHP 1.0-stable allows remote attackers to gain sensitive information via an invalid op parameter, which reveals the path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1600 affects CoolPHP 1.0-stable content management system where the index.php script fails to properly validate user input parameters. This flaw resides in the handling of the 'op' parameter which is used to determine the operational function within the application. When an attacker submits an invalid value for this parameter, the application generates an error message that inadvertently exposes the full server path where the application is installed. This type of information disclosure vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it provides attackers with critical system information that can be leveraged for further exploitation.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves improper input validation and error handling within the CoolPHP framework. When the 'op' parameter does not match any expected values, the system throws an unhandled exception or error condition that includes the absolute file path in its output. This occurs because the application lacks proper sanitization of user inputs and does not implement secure error handling practices. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-200 Information Exposure, specifically CWE-200-104 which deals with information exposure through error messages. This weakness allows attackers to gain knowledge about the underlying system architecture, including directory structures, file locations, and potentially even the operating system version through path disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with crucial reconnaissance data that can be used for more sophisticated attacks. The disclosed path information can reveal the exact location where the application resides on the server, potentially exposing the web root directory structure and helping attackers identify other possible attack vectors. This information can be combined with other reconnaissance techniques to map the entire server environment and locate additional vulnerable components. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, as it provides detailed information about the file system structure. The exposure of the server path can also facilitate directory traversal attacks, privilege escalation attempts, and other advanced persistent threat activities that rely on understanding the target environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and secure error handling mechanisms. The CoolPHP application should validate all user inputs against a predefined whitelist of acceptable values for the 'op' parameter and reject any invalid submissions gracefully without exposing internal system information. Error messages should be generic and not contain sensitive path information, implementing a centralized error handling system that logs detailed errors internally while displaying user-friendly messages to end users. Security patches should update the index.php script to sanitize all user inputs and ensure that error conditions do not reveal system paths. Additionally, implementing proper logging mechanisms will help administrators detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. The fix should also include configuring the web server to suppress detailed error messages in production environments and implementing proper access controls to limit who can view system information. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts of this type of vulnerability.