CVE-2004-1736 in Cacti
Summary
by MITRE
Cacti 0.8.5a allows remote attackers to gain sensitive information via an HTTP request to (1) auth.php, (2) auth_login.php, (3) auth_changepassword.php, and possibly other php files, which reveal the installation path in a PHP error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1736 affects Cacti version 0.8.5a, a widely used network monitoring and graphing tool that helps administrators track and visualize network performance metrics. This issue represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that occurs when the application fails to properly handle error conditions in its authentication modules. The flaw manifests when remote attackers submit malformed HTTP requests to specific authentication endpoints including auth.php, auth_login.php, and auth_changepassword.php, causing the system to generate PHP error messages that inadvertently expose the absolute file system path where Cacti is installed.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability stems from insufficient error handling within the PHP application code. When these authentication scripts encounter unexpected conditions or invalid input parameters, they trigger PHP error reporting mechanisms that include the full file path in the error output. This occurs because the application does not implement proper exception handling or error suppression for authentication-related operations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-209, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, "Exploitation for Credential Access," as the exposed path information can aid attackers in planning more sophisticated attacks against the system. The installation path disclosure creates a foundation for further exploitation attempts and allows attackers to understand the system's directory structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical reconnaissance data that can significantly aid in subsequent attack phases. The exposed installation path reveals the exact location where the Cacti application resides on the server, potentially exposing sensitive directory structures and file locations that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or additional attacks. Network administrators who fail to patch this vulnerability expose their monitoring infrastructure to potential compromise, as the disclosed path information can be used to target other components within the same installation directory or to craft more targeted attacks against the system's file permissions and access controls. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on Cacti for network monitoring, as it provides attackers with valuable information that could lead to full system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1736 require immediate patch application as the primary defense mechanism, with the vendor releasing version 0.8.6 to address this specific issue. System administrators should ensure that all PHP error reporting is properly configured to suppress detailed error messages in production environments, implementing the php.ini directive error_reporting = E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE to prevent path information from being exposed. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization within the authentication modules will prevent the conditions that trigger these error messages. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be enforced to limit access to authentication endpoints, while regular security audits should verify that no sensitive information is being exposed through error messages. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious HTTP requests that may trigger these error conditions, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566, "Phishing," as attackers often use information disclosure to craft more convincing social engineering attacks.