CVE-2005-1995 in Bitrix Site Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Bitrix Site Manager 4.0.x allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via direct request to (1) subscr_form.php or (2) dbquery_error.php, which reveals the path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1995 affects Bitrix Site Manager version 4.0.x and represents a classic information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system details to remote attackers. This vulnerability resides in the web application's error handling mechanism where specific PHP files fail to properly sanitize error messages before returning them to clients. The affected files subscr_form.php and dbquery_error.php contain code paths that generate error responses without adequate input validation or output sanitization, allowing malicious actors to probe the application's internal structure through crafted requests.
This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and specifically relates to CWE-1243 which addresses improper error handling in web applications. The flaw enables attackers to obtain directory paths and potentially other system information that could be used for further exploitation attempts. When an attacker makes direct requests to these vulnerable endpoints, the application returns error messages containing the absolute file paths on the server, which provides valuable reconnaissance information for subsequent attacks. The exposure of system paths can reveal the underlying operating system structure, application deployment location, and potentially other sensitive environmental details that could aid in crafting more sophisticated attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it creates a foothold for attackers to plan more targeted exploitation strategies. The leaked path information can be leveraged for directory traversal attacks, local file inclusion vulnerabilities, or to map the application's file structure for privilege escalation attempts. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1213 (Data from Information Repositories) as it provides attackers with the means to discover and enumerate system resources. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a map of the application's internal structure, making it easier to identify potential attack vectors and target specific components within the system.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability involve implementing proper error handling practices that prevent sensitive information disclosure. Organizations should ensure that error messages are sanitized before being displayed to users and that generic error responses are returned instead of detailed system information. Input validation should be implemented at all entry points to prevent malformed requests from triggering error conditions that reveal system paths. Additionally, web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block requests to known vulnerable endpoints, while proper access controls should be implemented to restrict direct access to sensitive application files. The implementation of centralized error handling mechanisms that log detailed errors internally while presenting generic responses to users represents the most effective approach to addressing this class of vulnerability.