CVE-2004-1839 in MS Analysis Module
Summary
by MITRE
MS Analysis module 2.0 for PHP-Nuke allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request to (1) browsers.php, (2) mstrack.php, or (3) title.php, which reveal the full path in a PHP error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1839 represents a critical information disclosure issue within the MS Analysis module 2.0 for PHP-Nuke systems. This flaw enables remote attackers to extract sensitive system information through direct access to specific PHP script files, fundamentally compromising the security posture of affected web applications. The vulnerability specifically affects the error handling mechanisms within the module, where improper error message generation exposes the complete server file path structure to unauthorized users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling practices within the PHP-Nuke framework. When attackers make direct requests to browsers.php, mstrack.php, or title.php scripts, the system fails to sanitize error outputs properly, resulting in the exposure of the full server path where the application is installed. This occurs because the error messages generated by these scripts contain unfiltered path information that should be suppressed in production environments to prevent attackers from mapping the underlying file system structure. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and represents a classic example of improper error handling that violates fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed file paths provide attackers with crucial reconnaissance data for subsequent exploitation attempts. With knowledge of the complete server path, malicious actors can better understand the application's directory structure, potentially identifying other vulnerable components or weak points in the system architecture. This information can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including directory traversal exploits, privilege escalation attempts, or targeted attacks against specific system components. The vulnerability also violates several security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) as it enables adversaries to map system resources through information gathering.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including disabling error display in production environments, implementing proper input validation for all script endpoints, and ensuring that error messages do not contain system path information. The recommended approach involves modifying the PHP configuration to set display_errors to off and error_reporting to a level that does not expose sensitive path information. Additionally, web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block direct access attempts to these specific vulnerable scripts, while regular security audits should verify that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other components of the PHP-Nuke system. The fix should also include implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized direct requests to administrative or sensitive scripts within the application.