CVE-2005-0855 in CoolForum
Summary
by MITRE
CoolForum 0.8.1 beta and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive path information via direct requests to (1) entete.php, (2) profile_accueil.php, (3) profile_mdp.php, (4) profile_notify.php, (5) profile_options.php, (6) profile_perso.php, (7) profile_pm.php, or (8) readannonce.php, which leaks the full pathname in a PHP error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2019
This vulnerability resides in CoolForum version 0.8.1 beta and earlier, representing a classic information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system path information to remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically affects eight key PHP files within the application's codebase including entete.php, profile_accueil.php, and several profile-related scripts. When these files are accessed directly without proper authentication or input validation, they generate PHP error messages containing the full server pathname where the application is installed. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of Information Exposure and represents a fundamental security misconfiguration that violates the principle of least privilege. The exposure of absolute paths provides attackers with critical reconnaissance information that can be leveraged for subsequent attacks, including directory traversal exploits and understanding the underlying server structure.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly validate input parameters and enforce access controls on critical script files. When remote attackers directly request these PHP files without proper session management or authentication checks, the scripts execute in an environment where PHP error reporting is enabled, causing the system to display full pathname information in error messages. This occurs because the application lacks proper error handling mechanisms and does not sanitize or validate the request parameters that could lead to unintended file execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it affects multiple core components of the forum application, providing attackers with comprehensive path information that could aid in crafting more sophisticated attacks against the system. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain information about the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the exact directory structure of the web server hosting the CoolForum application. This information can be used to map the application's file system architecture, identify potential weak points in the directory permissions, and understand the server environment configuration. Attackers can leverage this path information to craft more targeted attacks, including exploiting other vulnerabilities that may exist within the same directory structure or using the information to bypass security controls that depend on path obfuscation. The exposure of these paths can also aid in identifying whether the application is running on a shared hosting environment or a dedicated server, potentially revealing additional attack vectors. Organizations may face compliance violations and security audit failures due to this information disclosure, as it violates security best practices for protecting sensitive system information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper access controls and input validation mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves implementing authentication checks on all PHP scripts that are not intended to be accessed directly, ensuring that only authorized users can access profile management functions and other sensitive components. Additionally, developers should disable error reporting in production environments and implement proper error handling that does not expose system path information to end users. Configuration changes should include setting PHP's display_errors directive to off and implementing custom error pages that provide generic error messages without revealing system information. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify other potential entry points that may suffer from similar vulnerabilities, and implement a robust security testing process that includes penetration testing and vulnerability scanning. The remediation process should include updating the application to a patched version if available, or implementing proper access controls and input validation measures that prevent direct access to sensitive script files. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to prevent information disclosure attacks that can compromise entire systems.