CVE-2005-1148 in CalendarScript
Summary
by MITRE
calendar.pl in CalendarScript 3.21 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via invalid (1) year or (2) month parameters, which leaks the full pathname and debug information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1148 affects CalendarScript 3.21's calendar.pl script, representing a classic information disclosure flaw that exposes system internals to remote attackers. This vulnerability resides in the script's parameter validation mechanism where it fails to properly handle malformed inputs for year and month parameters, creating an avenue for attackers to extract sensitive system information through carefully crafted requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates poor input sanitization and error handling practices within the calendar.pl script. When invalid year or month parameters are submitted to the script, instead of gracefully handling the error condition, the application reveals detailed debug information including the full system pathname where the script is located. This type of error response pattern falls under CWE-209, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through error messages that contain system details such as file paths and internal structures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for systems hosting CalendarScript 3.21 applications. The leaked pathname information provides attackers with precise knowledge of the server's file system structure, potentially enabling them to map the application's directory hierarchy and identify other potentially vulnerable components. The exposure of debug information also reveals implementation details that could aid in further exploitation attempts, making this a critical finding for security practitioners. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves obtaining information from the file system through improper error handling.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with foundational knowledge necessary for more sophisticated attacks. The full pathname leakage can be leveraged in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to create more effective exploitation strategies, while the debug information may reveal internal application logic that could be exploited in subsequent attack phases. The vulnerability represents a fundamental security misconfiguration that violates the principle of least privilege by unnecessarily exposing system internals to external parties.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1148 should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling mechanisms within the calendar.pl script. System administrators should ensure that all parameter inputs are validated against expected formats and ranges, with any invalid inputs resulting in generic error messages rather than detailed system information. The implementation of proper error handling should follow security best practices by suppressing sensitive information in error responses and logging only necessary diagnostic details for system administrators. Additionally, this vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify and remediate similar issues in legacy applications, particularly those that may not receive ongoing security updates.