CVE-2004-1912 in Nukecalendar
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) modules.php, (2) block-Calendar.php, (3) block-Calendar1.php, (4) block-Calendar_center.php scripts in NukeCalendar 1.1.a, as used in PHP-Nuke, allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a URL with an invalid argument, which reveals the full path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1912 affects NukeCalendar 1.1.a, a calendar module commonly integrated into PHP-Nuke content management systems. This security flaw resides within multiple script files including modules.php and various calendar block implementations such as block-Calendar.php, block-Calendar1.php, and block-Calendar_center.php. The vulnerability represents a classic information disclosure issue that occurs when the application fails to properly handle invalid input parameters, leading to the exposure of sensitive system information through error messages.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling mechanisms within the affected PHP scripts. When remote attackers submit URLs containing invalid arguments to these calendar modules, the application generates error messages that inadvertently reveal the full server path where the software is installed. This occurs because the scripts do not implement proper input validation or error suppression techniques before displaying error information to users. The flaw essentially allows attackers to perform reconnaissance by extracting directory structures and file paths that could be leveraged for subsequent exploitation attempts.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations running affected PHP-Nuke installations. The exposure of full system paths provides attackers with valuable information that can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks, including directory traversal exploits, path-based injection attacks, and other filesystem-related vulnerabilities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication or privileged access to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can interact with the web application. This information disclosure can serve as a foundation for further compromise, as attackers often use path information to craft more targeted attacks against the underlying system infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes "Information Exposure" and specifically addresses situations where applications inadvertently disclose sensitive information through error messages or other output mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this issue maps to T1083, "File and Directory Discovery," as it provides adversaries with information about the file system structure without requiring direct system access. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of T1213, "Data from Information Repositories," as it enables unauthorized access to system information that would normally be restricted to authorized users. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack chain where initial reconnaissance leads to more dangerous exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper error handling and input validation across all affected scripts. The most effective approach involves configuring the PHP application to suppress detailed error messages from being displayed to end users, while logging these errors securely for administrative review. System administrators should also implement proper input sanitization routines that validate all user-supplied parameters before processing them within the application. Additionally, applying the latest security patches from the PHP-Nuke community or migrating to more modern calendar solutions would provide complete remediation. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can also help by filtering out suspicious URL patterns that might trigger these error conditions, though this represents a defensive measure rather than a complete fix.