CVE-2005-2895 in PBLang
Summary
by MITRE
setcookie.php in PBLang 4.65, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a %00 (a null byte) in the u parameter, which reveals the path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2895 affects PBLang version 4.65 and potentially earlier releases, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that stems from improper input validation within the setcookie.php script. This vulnerability arises from the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input, specifically when processing the u parameter through HTTP requests. The exploitation mechanism leverages null byte injection techniques that allow attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and extract sensitive system information.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper handling of null byte characters within the u parameter, which enables attackers to trigger error messages containing directory paths and system information. When a null byte character %00 is injected into the u parameter, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize this input before processing it, resulting in the exposure of critical system paths within error messages. This represents a classic example of improper input validation and error handling that violates fundamental security principles. The vulnerability directly corresponds to CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and CWE-210, which deals with information exposure through error messages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the revealed paths can provide attackers with crucial system architecture details that facilitate further exploitation attempts. Attackers can leverage the exposed directory paths to understand the application's file structure, potentially identifying other vulnerable components or files that may contain additional sensitive information. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers discovery of system information, and T1213, which addresses data from information repositories. The exposure of system paths creates opportunities for attackers to plan more sophisticated attacks, including directory traversal attempts or other path-based exploitation techniques that could lead to complete system compromise.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe because it provides attackers with the exact locations of application files and directories, which can be used to map the entire application infrastructure. This information can enable attackers to craft more targeted attacks against specific components, bypass security controls, or identify additional vulnerabilities within the same application ecosystem. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of proper error handling and input sanitization practices that are essential for maintaining application security. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, proper error handling, and removal of sensitive information from error messages. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across all application components, as this type of information disclosure can serve as a gateway for more serious security breaches.