CVE-2004-2671 in eNdonesia
Summary
by MITRE
mod.php in eNdonesia 8.3 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via certain direct requests, and certain requests with invalid parameter values, which reveal the path in various error messages, as demonstrated by the (1) mod and (2) cid parameters.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2671 affects the mod.php component of eNdonesia 8.3, a web application framework that was widely used in the early 2000s for content management and web publishing. This vulnerability represents a classic information disclosure flaw that occurs when the application fails to properly validate user input parameters, leading to the exposure of sensitive system information through error messages. The vulnerability specifically impacts the handling of two parameters: mod and cid, which are used to determine the module and content identifier respectively within the application's request processing mechanism. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's input sanitization and error handling procedures, creating opportunities for attackers to gather intelligence about the underlying system architecture and file structure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through direct HTTP requests that manipulate the mod and cid parameters in ways that trigger error responses from the web server or application framework. When these parameters contain invalid or unexpected values, the application fails to properly validate the inputs and instead generates error messages that contain the full server path where the application is installed. This path disclosure represents a significant security risk as it provides attackers with detailed information about the server's file system structure, including directory paths, file locations, and potentially even the operating system configuration. The vulnerability operates under CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure through error messages, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities to gather system information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple path disclosure, as it provides attackers with foundational information that can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks against the system. The exposed paths can reveal the exact location of configuration files, database connection details, and other sensitive components that may not be directly accessible through normal application interfaces. Attackers can leverage this information to craft targeted attacks that exploit other vulnerabilities present in the system, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability affects the application's security posture by reducing the attack surface complexity for potential adversaries and providing them with critical reconnaissance data that would otherwise be difficult to obtain through legitimate means.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and error handling procedures within the application framework. The most effective approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects malformed or unexpected inputs before they can trigger error responses, combined with generic error messages that do not reveal system-specific information. Organizations should also implement proper logging mechanisms to monitor for unusual parameter patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation attempts. The fix should address the root cause by ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are validated against expected formats and ranges, while error handling should be designed to provide minimal information to users regardless of the type of error encountered. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring solutions can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.