CVE-2005-2652 in Zorum
Summary
by MITRE
Zorum 3.5 allows remote attackers to obtain the full installation path via direct requests to (1) gorum/notification.php, (2) user.php, (3) attach.php, (4) blacklist.php, (5) zorum/forum.php, (6) globalstat.php, (7) gorum/trace.php, (8) gorum/badwords.php, or (9) gorum/flood.php.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2018
This vulnerability in Zorum 3.5 represents a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system paths to remote attackers. The vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of direct requests to specific PHP script files within the gorum directory structure. When attackers make direct requests to these endpoints, the application reveals the complete server installation path through error messages or direct output, providing adversaries with crucial system information that can be leveraged for further exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly validate or sanitize input parameters when processing requests to the specified PHP files. Each of the affected endpoints including notification.php, user.php, attach.php, blacklist.php, forum.php, globalstat.php, trace.php, badwords.php, and flood.php lacks proper access controls or path validation mechanisms. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to enumerate the application's directory structure and potentially identify other vulnerable components or misconfigurations within the server environment.
From an operational perspective, this information disclosure vulnerability significantly increases the attack surface and risk profile of affected systems. The leaked installation paths provide attackers with precise knowledge of the application's deployment structure, which can be used to craft more targeted attacks against other components of the same system. The exposure of full installation paths may enable attackers to perform directory traversal attacks, identify version-specific vulnerabilities, or map out the overall system architecture to plan more sophisticated exploitation strategies. This information can also aid in bypassing security measures that might be in place to protect other system components.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure through improper error handling and path disclosure. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a reconnaissance technique where adversaries gather information about the target system to inform their attack planning. Organizations should implement proper input validation and access control mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system information. The recommended mitigation strategies include implementing proper authentication checks for all PHP endpoints, sanitizing all user inputs, and configuring the web server to prevent direct access to sensitive application files. Additionally, error messages should be configured to not reveal system paths or internal application structure information to prevent similar information disclosure scenarios.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate information exposure as it provides attackers with foundational knowledge for conducting more advanced attacks. Once the installation paths are known, attackers can potentially exploit other vulnerabilities that may be present in the same application or related components. The exposure of these paths also violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth, as the application inadvertently provides attackers with information that should remain confidential. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify similar path disclosure vulnerabilities across their application portfolio and ensure that proper security controls are in place to prevent unauthorized access to system information.