CVE-2005-4017 in Widget Property
Summary
by MITRE
property.php in Widget Property 1.1.19 allows remote attackers to obtain the full server path via an invalid lang value, which leaks the path in the resulting error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4017 affects the Widget Property plugin version 1.1.19, specifically targeting the property.php script. This issue represents a classic path disclosure vulnerability that occurs when the application fails to properly validate user input before processing it within the system. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker provides an invalid language parameter value, which triggers an error condition that inadvertently reveals the full server file path to the remote attacker. This type of information disclosure flaw directly violates security principles by exposing sensitive system information that could be leveraged for further exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the plugin's property.php file. When the system receives an invalid language value, it processes this input without proper sanitization or validation, leading to an error message that contains the absolute server path. This occurs because the application's error reporting mechanism is configured to display detailed error information including file paths, which is typical in development environments but represents a significant security risk in production systems. The vulnerability falls under CWE-209, which specifically addresses information exposure through error messages, and can be categorized as a path traversal or path disclosure issue. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 technique for discovering system information, as it provides adversaries with critical system layout information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it significantly weakens the overall security posture of the affected system. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability gain knowledge of the server's file structure, which can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks such as directory traversal attempts, file inclusion exploits, or targeted attacks against specific system components. The leaked path information may reveal directory layouts, file names, and potentially even system configurations that could be used to bypass security controls or identify other vulnerabilities within the same application or system. This information disclosure creates a foundation for more advanced exploitation techniques and reduces the attack surface by providing attackers with detailed knowledge of the target environment. The vulnerability particularly affects web applications running on shared hosting environments or systems where the application directory structure might reveal sensitive information about the hosting configuration or other installed applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4017 should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling practices within the affected application. The primary recommendation involves configuring the application to sanitize all user inputs, particularly parameters that control language selection or other system functions, before processing them within the application. Error handling should be modified to prevent detailed error messages from being displayed to end users, instead logging errors internally while presenting generic error messages to users. Additionally, the application should be configured to disable verbose error reporting in production environments, following security best practices outlined in OWASP guidelines for secure coding. System administrators should also implement proper access controls and file permissions to limit what information can be accessed through the application interface, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack. The fix typically involves updating the Widget Property plugin to a version that properly validates language parameters and handles error conditions without exposing system paths, with the specific implementation requiring code changes that ensure all user-supplied inputs are properly validated before being processed by the application logic.