CVE-2004-1923 in TikiWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Tiki CMS/Groupware (TikiWiki) 1.8.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to gain sensitive information via a direct request to (1) banner_click.php, (2) categorize.php, (3) tiki-admin_include_directory.php, (4) tiki-directory_search.php, which reveal the web server path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1923 affects Tiki CMS/Groupware version 1.8.1 and earlier, representing a significant information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system details to remote attackers. This vulnerability resides within the web application's error handling mechanisms where specific PHP scripts fail to properly sanitize error messages before displaying them to users. The affected files include banner_click.php, categorize.php, tiki-admin_include_directory.php, and tiki-directory_search.php, all of which contain code paths that generate error messages containing the absolute web server path. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-209, which specifically addresses the exposure of error messages containing sensitive information, and represents a classic example of insecure error handling that violates fundamental security principles.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through direct HTTP requests to the vulnerable PHP scripts, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before processing it. When these specific scripts encounter conditions that trigger errors, they output error messages containing the full server path to the web application directory. This information disclosure can reveal critical system details including directory structures, file paths, and potentially even underlying server configuration information. Attackers can leverage this information to plan more sophisticated attacks, such as directory traversal attempts, file inclusion exploits, or other path-based vulnerabilities. The exposure of server paths provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that significantly reduces the effort required to conduct further exploitation activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more serious security compromises within the affected Tiki CMS installation. Remote attackers who discover the web server path can use this information to better understand the application's architecture and potentially identify other vulnerabilities in the system. The exposure of directory structures may enable attackers to craft targeted attacks against specific file locations, potentially leading to unauthorized file access or even remote code execution depending on the server configuration. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) as it provides attackers with systematic information about the file system structure, and represents a critical weakness in the application's security posture that could enable privilege escalation or data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1923 require immediate implementation of proper error handling practices within the affected Tiki CMS application. The primary solution involves modifying the vulnerable PHP scripts to ensure that error messages do not contain sensitive system information such as absolute file paths or server directories. Organizations should implement centralized error handling mechanisms that log detailed error information internally while presenting generic error messages to end users. This approach aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and follows the principle of least privilege in error reporting. Additionally, system administrators should upgrade to Tiki CMS version 1.8.2 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed, and implement proper input validation and sanitization throughout the application to prevent similar issues from occurring in other code paths. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar information disclosure vulnerabilities across the entire application stack.