CVE-2005-1386 in PHP-Nuke
Summary
by MITRE
PHP-Nuke 7.6 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request to (1) ipban.php, (2) db.php, (3) lang-norwegian.php, (4) lang-indonesian.php, (5) lang-greek.php, (6) a request to Web_Links with the portuguese language (lang-portuguese.php), (7) a request to Web_Links with the indonesian language (lang-indonesian.php), (8) a request to the survey module with the indonesian language (lang-indonesian.php), (9) a request to the Reviews module with the portuguese language, or (10) a request to the Journal module with the portuguese language, which reveal the path in an error message.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2018
This vulnerability in PHP-Nuke 7.6 and earlier versions represents a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes system paths through error messages generated by multiple module components. The vulnerability manifests when remote attackers make direct requests to specific PHP files including ipban.php, db.php, and various language configuration files such as lang-norwegian.php, lang-indonesian.php, and lang-greek.php. Additionally, the issue affects Web_Links, survey, Reviews, and Journal modules when accessed with specific language parameters, particularly Portuguese and Indonesian language files. The technical flaw stems from insufficient error handling mechanisms within these modules, which fail to sanitize error messages before returning them to requesting clients. This results in the exposure of sensitive server path information that could be leveraged by attackers to gain insights into the underlying system architecture and file structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked path information can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can use the exposed paths to map the application's directory structure, identify potential weak points in the file system, and plan subsequent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability affects multiple modules within PHP-Nuke, indicating a systemic issue in the error handling framework that spans across different application components. This widespread nature suggests that the underlying code pattern responsible for error generation and response handling has been consistently implemented across various modules without proper security considerations. The exposure of file paths can facilitate directory traversal attacks, help attackers identify vulnerable components, and provide insights for crafting targeted attacks against specific modules.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes "Information Exposure" and represents a fundamental weakness in how applications handle sensitive data exposure. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1083, "File and Directory Discovery," as the exposed paths directly facilitate reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and error handling practices that violate security best practices established by organizations like the Open Web Application Security Project. The fact that multiple modules are affected suggests that the security controls are not consistently applied across the application codebase, creating a vector for attackers to systematically discover and exploit weaknesses. This information disclosure vulnerability can be exploited in conjunction with other attack vectors to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to system resources.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive error handling mechanisms that sanitize all output before returning responses to clients. The primary remediation involves updating to PHP-Nuke versions that address this vulnerability, as the original 7.6 and earlier releases contain unpatched code that exposes system paths. Organizations should also implement proper logging and monitoring of error conditions to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, configuring web servers to suppress detailed error messages and implementing proper access controls for sensitive files can help reduce the attack surface. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar patterns in other applications and ensure that error handling mechanisms consistently sanitize output before transmission. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security guidelines from standards bodies and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against information disclosure attacks.