CVE-2005-2570 in FunkBoard
Summary
by MITRE
FunkBoard 0.66CF, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request to forums.php, which reveals the path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2570 affects FunkBoard version 0.66CF and potentially earlier releases, representing a classic information disclosure flaw that exposes system paths through error messages. This vulnerability resides within the forums.php script of the FunkBoard application, which is a web-based bulletin board system designed for community forums and discussion platforms. The issue manifests when remote attackers can directly access this specific script without proper authentication or input validation, leading to the exposure of sensitive system path information that could be leveraged for further exploitation attempts.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate error handling within the forums.php script, where the application fails to sanitize or properly manage error conditions that occur during script execution. When an attacker makes a direct request to this file, the system generates an error message that inadvertently includes the full server path where the application is installed. This path disclosure represents a significant security risk as it provides attackers with crucial information about the server environment, including directory structures, file locations, and potentially the operating system configuration. Such information can be used to craft more sophisticated attacks targeting specific system components or to understand the underlying infrastructure for privilege escalation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more advanced attack vectors within the context of the broader ATT&CK framework. The exposed paths can facilitate reconnaissance activities by attackers seeking to understand the application's architecture and potentially identify other vulnerable components within the same system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," and demonstrates how seemingly minor error handling issues can create significant security implications. The disclosure of system paths can enable attackers to perform directory traversal attacks, identify version-specific vulnerabilities, or map out the server's file structure to find additional attack surfaces.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of defensive cybersecurity practices and the broader threat landscape. The exposure of server paths through error messages represents a fundamental security misconfiguration that violates the principle of least privilege and information hiding. Organizations should implement proper error handling mechanisms that do not reveal internal system information to unauthorized users, which can be achieved through centralized error management systems, logging mechanisms, and input validation procedures. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments of web applications, as such issues often persist in legacy systems where security updates may not be regularly applied. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected versions, implementation of proper error handling protocols, and comprehensive security audits to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities within the application stack.