CVE-2004-1699 in Showcenter
Summary
by MITRE
SettingsBase.php in Pinnacle ShowCenter 1.51 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (web interface errors) via an invalid Skin parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1699 affects Pinnacle ShowCenter version 1.51, specifically within the SettingsBase.php component that manages web interface configurations. This flaw represents a classic input validation issue that enables remote attackers to disrupt service availability through malformed parameter inputs. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the Skin parameter, allowing malicious actors to submit invalid values that cause the web interface to generate errors and potentially become unresponsive.
This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of insufficient input validation, which is commonly categorized as CWE-20 by the Common Weakness Enumeration standard. The flaw creates a condition where the application's error handling mechanism becomes overwhelmed or misconfigured when processing unexpected input values. The remote attack vector means that an attacker can exploit this weakness without requiring local system access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the web interface is exposed to external traffic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can lead to complete web interface unavailability, preventing legitimate users from accessing configuration options and potentially compromising the overall system management capabilities. When the Skin parameter is manipulated with invalid values, the application's error handling routines may fail to gracefully recover, leading to cascading failures that can affect other components of the ShowCenter system. This denial of service condition can be particularly problematic for users who rely on the web interface for critical system operations and configuration changes.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which involves network denial of service attacks. The attack pattern demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation flaws can be exploited to create significant operational disruptions. Organizations using Pinnacle ShowCenter 1.51 should consider implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls to filter out suspicious parameter values before they reach the vulnerable application component. Additionally, the vulnerability underscores the importance of proper error handling and input sanitization practices that should be integrated into all web application development processes.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of the SettingsBase.php component to implement proper parameter validation and error handling. The fix should include comprehensive input sanitization that rejects invalid Skin parameter values and implements graceful error recovery mechanisms. Organizations should also conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar input validation weaknesses across other components of the ShowCenter application. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual parameter patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized personnel can access the vulnerable web interface components.
This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security practices throughout the application lifecycle. The issue demonstrates how legacy applications may contain unpatched vulnerabilities that can be easily exploited by remote attackers, emphasizing the need for continuous security assessments and vulnerability management programs. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security scanning tools that can identify similar input validation flaws in their web applications, as these types of vulnerabilities remain prevalent in many software systems despite decades of security awareness efforts.