CVE-2005-0310 in Exponent
Summary
by MITRE
Exponent 0.95 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct HTTP request to (1) search.info.php, (2) permissions.info.php, (3) security.info.php, (4) formcontrol.php, or (5) file_modules.php, which reveals the path in an error message because the pathos_core_version variable is undefined.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0310 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Exponent CMS version 0.95 that exposes system paths through improper error handling mechanisms. This vulnerability resides in the web application's failure to properly validate input parameters and sanitize error messages, creating an attack surface that directly reveals sensitive system information to remote adversaries. The affected files search.info.php, permissions.info.php, security.info.php, formcontrol.php, and file_modules.php all share a common weakness in their error handling routines where undefined variables trigger informative error messages containing absolute file paths on the server filesystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's lack of proper variable initialization and error handling procedures. When the pathos_core_version variable remains undefined during script execution, the system generates error messages that inadvertently expose the complete file path structure of the web server. This occurs because the application's error reporting mechanism does not properly sanitize output before displaying it to users, allowing attackers to construct direct HTTP requests to specific endpoints that trigger these uncontrolled error conditions. The vulnerability specifically manifests when attackers can directly access these five PHP files through HTTP requests, bypassing normal application flow and triggering the undefined variable error states.
From an operational perspective, this information disclosure vulnerability creates significant risk for system security and can be leveraged by attackers to gain intelligence for more sophisticated attacks. The exposed file paths provide attackers with detailed knowledge of the server's directory structure, which can be used to plan further exploitation attempts including directory traversal attacks, local file inclusion vulnerabilities, or to identify specific system configurations that may be targeted. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-209, which describes the improper handling of error messages that reveal system information, and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1083 for discovering system information through path disclosure mechanisms. This type of information exposure often serves as a precursor to more serious attacks such as privilege escalation or remote code execution attempts.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with critical system intelligence that can be used to tailor subsequent attack vectors. The exposed paths may reveal sensitive installation details including database connection strings, configuration file locations, or other system-specific information that could be exploited in combination with other vulnerabilities. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of poor input validation and error handling practices that were common in legacy web applications of that era. The vulnerability can be easily exploited through simple HTTP request manipulation and does not require complex attack chains or specialized tools, making it particularly dangerous for unpatched systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including proper error handling, input validation, and the removal or access restriction of these vulnerable files until a complete security patch is applied.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper error handling mechanisms that prevent sensitive information disclosure through error messages, including the use of generic error pages that do not reveal system paths or internal application details. The vulnerability can be addressed through code-level fixes that properly initialize all variables before use, implement proper input validation, and ensure that error messages are sanitized before display. Additionally, access controls should be implemented to restrict direct access to these information disclosure endpoints, and comprehensive application security reviews should be conducted to identify similar patterns throughout the codebase. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious direct HTTP requests to potentially vulnerable endpoints, and regular security assessments should be performed to identify and remediate similar information disclosure vulnerabilities in the broader application ecosystem.