CVE-2005-0659 in phpBB
Summary
by MITRE
phpBB 2.0.13 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request to oracle.php, which reveals the path in a PHP error message.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0659 represents a classic information disclosure flaw affecting phpBB versions 2.0.13 and earlier. This issue stems from inadequate error handling mechanisms within the oracle.php script, which is part of the phpBB bulletin board system. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to directly access this specific file and trigger PHP error messages that inadvertently expose sensitive system information including file paths and potentially other system details. Such information disclosure vulnerabilities are particularly concerning as they provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks against the affected system.
The technical flaw manifests through improper error message handling in the oracle.php file, which is typically used for database connectivity testing within phpBB installations. When an attacker makes a direct request to this file without proper authentication or validation, the script fails to sanitize error outputs appropriately. This results in PHP error messages being displayed to the remote user, containing the full system path where the phpBB installation resides. The vulnerability operates under the principle of information exposure through error messages, which falls under the CWE-209 classification for exposure of error message containing sensitive information. This type of vulnerability represents a fundamental weakness in the application's defensive programming practices and demonstrates poor input validation and error handling procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical system information that can significantly aid in subsequent attack phases. The exposed file paths can reveal the exact directory structure of the web server, potentially exposing the installation location, database configuration details, and other system-specific information. This information can be leveraged by attackers to craft more targeted attacks, such as directory traversal exploits, or to identify other potential vulnerabilities within the same system. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 for Exploitation for Credential Access, as the disclosed information can facilitate further compromise of the system. Additionally, this issue contributes to the broader category of reconnaissance activities that attackers use to map out target environments before launching more serious attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected phpBB installations to version 2.0.14 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper error handling. System administrators should also implement proper input validation and error handling mechanisms across all web applications, ensuring that error messages do not reveal sensitive system information to unauthorized users. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for direct requests to potentially vulnerable files. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security audits of their web applications to identify similar error handling issues and ensure that proper logging and monitoring mechanisms are in place to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper error handling as outlined in various security standards including those related to secure software development lifecycle requirements.