CVE-2004-1677 in PerlDesk
Summary
by MITRE
pdesk.cgi in PerlDesk allows remote attackers to gain sensitive information via an invalid lang parameter, which includes pathname information in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1677 affects PerlDesk, a web-based help desk application written in perl. This issue manifests through the pdesk.cgi script which processes user requests and handles language parameter inputs. The flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability where improper input validation leads to the exposure of sensitive system information. When an attacker submits an invalid lang parameter to the application, the system fails to properly sanitize this input and instead incorporates the malformed parameter directly into error messages that are subsequently displayed to users. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of input validation and output sanitization that are essential for preventing information leakage attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the application's inadequate handling of user-supplied parameters within the language selection functionality. When the lang parameter contains invalid or malicious input, the system does not properly validate or sanitize this input before incorporating it into error messages. This creates a path where pathname information becomes exposed through error messages, effectively leaking directory structure details from the server. The vulnerability specifically demonstrates poor error handling practices and lacks proper input sanitization mechanisms that would prevent such information leakage. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a path traversal or information disclosure weakness that aligns with CWE-200, which covers improper output sanitization and CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation. The vulnerability also connects to ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities to gather system information for further attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked pathname information could provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance data for planning more sophisticated attacks. An attacker could potentially use the exposed directory paths to identify system structure, locate sensitive files, or map the application's file hierarchy. This information leakage creates opportunities for attackers to craft more targeted attacks, potentially leading to privilege escalation or additional vulnerabilities. The exposure of pathname information through error messages also undermines the application's security posture by providing unauthorized access to internal system details that should remain hidden from external users. This type of vulnerability can be particularly dangerous when combined with other reconnaissance techniques, as it provides attackers with direct insights into the server's file structure and organization, potentially enabling more effective exploitation of other application weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and proper error handling mechanisms within the PerlDesk application. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in language selection functionality, to prevent the inclusion of potentially malicious or invalid input in error messages. Organizations should implement proper input validation that rejects or filters out invalid language parameters before they are processed. Additionally, error messages should be designed to provide generic information to users while logging detailed technical information only for administrative purposes. This approach follows the principle of least privilege in error handling and prevents sensitive system information from being exposed to end users. The fix should also include implementing proper logging mechanisms that capture security-relevant events without exposing system details in user-facing error messages. Security best practices suggest that applications should never expose internal system paths or configuration details through user interfaces or error messages, as this information can be leveraged for further exploitation attempts.