CVE-2005-2053 in JAF CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Just another flat file (JAF) CMS before 3.0 Final allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via (1) an * (asterisk) in the id parameter, (2) a blank id parameter, or (3) an * (asterisk) in the disp parameter to index.php, which reveals the path in an error message. NOTE: a followup suggests that this may be a directory traversal or file inclusion vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2053 affects the Just Another Flat file (JAF) Content Management System version prior to 3.0 Final, representing a critical security flaw that exposes system paths through improper input validation. This vulnerability manifests when specific parameter values are passed to the index.php script, creating a situation where sensitive system information becomes accessible to remote attackers. The flaw operates through three distinct attack vectors involving the id parameter with asterisk characters, blank id parameters, and asterisk characters in the disp parameter, all of which trigger error messages containing directory paths.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input parameters within the JAF CMS framework. When attackers submit malicious values such as asterisk characters or empty parameters to the id or disp parameters, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before processing them in file operations. This lack of input validation creates a path traversal condition that ultimately results in error messages being generated which contain full system paths. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and potentially CWE-94, which covers improper control of generation of code, as the system's failure to validate input could lead to code execution through file inclusion mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked system paths provide attackers with crucial reconnaissance data for subsequent attacks. The exposed directory structures enable threat actors to map the server's file system layout, potentially identifying sensitive files, configuration data, or other system components that could be targeted for further exploitation. Security professionals should note that the vulnerability's classification as potentially a directory traversal or file inclusion issue suggests that the information disclosure could serve as a stepping stone for more severe attacks, including arbitrary code execution or unauthorized access to protected resources.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that it affects a content management system that likely serves web applications with varying levels of security requirements. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability without requiring authentication, making it a significant threat to any system running affected versions of JAF CMS. The simplicity of the attack vectors - using asterisk characters or blank parameters - means that even basic automated scanning tools could identify and exploit this vulnerability. Organizations should consider implementing input validation mechanisms and ensuring that error messages do not contain system path information, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for privilege escalation and T1083 for file and directory discovery, as attackers could use this information to map system resources and plan more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the JAF CMS to version 3.0 Final or later, which presumably addresses the input validation issues. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input sanitization at the application level, ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are validated and sanitized before being processed. Web application firewalls can provide additional protection by blocking suspicious parameter values, while error handling should be configured to prevent system path information from appearing in user-facing error messages. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications and ensure that proper security controls are in place to prevent information disclosure vulnerabilities.