CVE-2005-2433 in PHPList
Summary
by MITRE
PhpList allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request to (1) about.php, (2) connect.php, (3) domainstats.php or (4) usercheck.php in public_html/lists/admin directory, (5) attributes.php, (6) dbcheck.php, (7) importcsv.php, (8) user.php, (9) usermgt.php, or (10) users.php in admin/commonlib/pages directory, (11) helloworld.php, or (12) sidebar.php in public_html/lists/admin/plugins directory, or (13) main.php in public_html/lists/admin/plugsins/defaultplugin directory, which reveal the path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2021
This vulnerability in PhpList represents a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes system paths through error messages generated by multiple administrative scripts. The vulnerability affects various files within the application's admin directory structure, including about.php, connect.php, domainstats.php, and usercheck.php located in public_html/lists/admin, as well as files in admin/commonlib/pages directory such as attributes.php, dbcheck.php, importcsv.php, user.php, usermgt.php, and users.php. Additionally, the vulnerability extends to plugin directories with files like helloworld.php and sidebar.php in public_html/lists/admin/plugins, and main.php in public_html/lists/admin/plugsins/defaultplugin. The exposure of system paths through error messages creates significant security implications for attackers seeking to understand the application's architecture and potentially exploit other vulnerabilities.
The technical flaw stems from improper error handling mechanisms within the PhpList application where error messages containing system paths are displayed to remote attackers without adequate sanitization or access control measures. When these specific files are accessed directly, they generate error messages that inadvertently reveal the absolute file paths on the server where the application is installed. This information disclosure vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-200 - Information Exposure, which is a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to gain insights into the application's internal structure and deployment environment. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to implement proper input validation and error handling procedures that would prevent sensitive system information from being exposed to unauthorized users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with detailed information about the server's file system structure, which can be leveraged for further exploitation attempts. Knowledge of absolute file paths enables attackers to craft more sophisticated attacks, potentially leading to directory traversal vulnerabilities, local file inclusion issues, or other path-based exploits. The exposure of these paths also aids in reconnaissance activities, allowing threat actors to map the application's architecture and identify potential attack vectors that might not be immediately apparent through normal scanning techniques. Furthermore, the information disclosure can assist in bypassing security measures that rely on obfuscation or non-obvious path structures, making the application more vulnerable to various forms of exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper error handling mechanisms that prevent sensitive information from being exposed to end users or attackers. Organizations should ensure that all error messages are sanitized and do not contain system paths or other sensitive information that could aid in exploitation attempts. The application should be configured to display generic error messages to users while logging detailed technical information internally for administrators. Implementing proper access controls to restrict direct access to administrative scripts and ensuring that all PHP files in the application directory structure are properly protected through authentication mechanisms would significantly reduce the risk. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar information disclosure vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 - Exploitation for Credential Access, where attackers may use information disclosure to gain insights that facilitate further compromise of the system.