CVE-2005-2722 in PHP Weblog
Summary
by MITRE
Foojan PHP Weblog allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via (1) a direct request to /daylinks/index.php or (2) a negative value in the daylinkspage parameter to index.php, which reveal the path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2722 affects the Foojan PHP Weblog application, a content management system that was prevalent in the mid-2000s. This flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that occurs when the application fails to properly validate user input parameters, leading to the exposure of sensitive system information through error messages. The vulnerability exists in the way the application processes requests to specific script files, particularly in how it handles the daylinkspage parameter within the index.php file.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and error handling within the Foojan PHP Weblog application. When attackers submit a direct request to the /daylinks/index.php endpoint or manipulate the daylinkspage parameter with a negative value in the index.php script, the application does not adequately sanitize these inputs before processing them. Instead of gracefully handling invalid parameters, the system generates error messages that inadvertently reveal the absolute file system path where the application is installed. This occurs because the error handling mechanism in the application's codebase does not properly filter or escape the user-supplied parameters before they are included in error output.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical system information that can be leveraged in subsequent attacks. The revealed file paths can be used to map the application's directory structure, potentially exposing other sensitive files or directories that might be accessible through the web server. This information disclosure creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks, including directory traversal attempts, file inclusion vulnerabilities, or exploitation of other weaknesses within the application's architecture. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes information exposure through error messages, and represents a common pattern in legacy web applications that lack proper input sanitization and error handling protocols.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise to exploit. An attacker need only make a simple HTTP request to the affected application with either a direct path to /daylinks/index.php or by manipulating the daylinkspage parameter with a negative integer value. The resulting error message contains the absolute path to the application installation directory, which can be used to craft more targeted attacks against the system. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper error handling in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities to gather system information. Organizations using this application would be particularly vulnerable if they had not implemented proper input validation measures, as the vulnerability could be exploited repeatedly without requiring authentication or advanced attack techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling within the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied parameters before processing them, ensuring that negative values or other invalid inputs are rejected or properly handled without revealing system information. Additionally, developers should implement generic error messages that do not contain sensitive system information, and should configure the web server to suppress detailed error messages from being displayed to end users. The application should also be updated to the latest version available from the vendor, as this vulnerability was likely addressed in subsequent releases. Security monitoring should be implemented to detect attempts to exploit this vulnerability, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar information disclosure issues within the application's codebase.