CVE-2005-1963 in Helpdesk
Summary
by MITRE
Cerberus Helpdesk 0.97.3 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via certain requests to (1) reports.php, (2) knowledgebase.php, or (3) configuration.php, which leaks the information in a PHP error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1963 affects Cerberus Helpdesk version 0.97.3 and represents a critical information disclosure flaw that enables remote attackers to extract sensitive system data through crafted requests to specific application endpoints. This vulnerability resides within the application's error handling mechanism where improper input validation leads to the exposure of internal system information through PHP error messages. The affected files include reports.php, knowledgebase.php, and configuration.php, which collectively represent core functional components of the helpdesk system that handle reporting, knowledge base management, and system configuration respectively.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user input before processing requests to these specific PHP files. When remote attackers submit malformed or unexpected parameters to these endpoints, the application generates PHP error messages that inadvertently reveal sensitive information such as file paths, database connection details, or internal system configurations. This occurs because the application lacks proper error handling and input validation mechanisms that would normally prevent such information leakage. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for "Data from Information Repositories" as it enables unauthorized access to system information through application interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked information can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can obtain detailed system architecture information that would otherwise be protected, potentially enabling them to craft more targeted attacks against the application or underlying infrastructure. The exposure of file paths and configuration details can facilitate directory traversal attacks, database injection attempts, or other exploitation techniques that leverage the disclosed information. Additionally, the vulnerability affects the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad, as it violates the principle of least privilege by exposing system internals to unauthorized users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1963 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and error handling procedures across all affected application endpoints. System administrators should ensure that the Cerberus Helpdesk application is updated to a patched version that addresses this vulnerability, as the original version 0.97.3 is no longer supported and contains multiple security weaknesses. The implementation of custom error handling routines that prevent PHP error messages from being displayed to end users, combined with proper parameter validation and sanitization, will effectively neutralize this threat. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious requests to these specific endpoints, while maintaining comprehensive logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's attack surface, ensuring that the remediation efforts address both current and potential future threats.