CVE-2005-4389 in CONTENS
Summary
by MITRE
search.cfm in CONTENS 3.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain the full server path via invalid (1) submit.y, (2) bool, (3) itemsperpage, (4) submit, (5) submit.x, (6) criteria, (7) advanced, and (8) intern parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4389 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within CONTENS 3.0 and earlier versions, specifically affecting the search.cfm component. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters before processing them within the application's search functionality. The vulnerability manifests when attackers submit malformed or invalid values for multiple parameters including submit.y, bool, itemsperpage, submit, submit.x, criteria, advanced, and intern, which collectively enable remote threat actors to extract sensitive server path information from the application's error responses.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through parameter manipulation that triggers error messages containing the full server path in the application's response. When CONTENS processes these invalid parameters, the system fails to implement proper input sanitization and error handling protocols, resulting in the exposure of the complete file system path where the application resides. This type of information disclosure represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture, as it provides attackers with critical system information that can be leveraged for further exploitation. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-200, which encompasses information exposure through error messages, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities to gain system intelligence.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple path disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks by providing attackers with detailed system information. The exposed server paths can reveal directory structures, file locations, and potentially sensitive deployment configurations that would otherwise remain hidden. This information can be used to craft more targeted attacks against the application or underlying system infrastructure, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data breaches, or system compromise. The vulnerability affects the application's input validation layer and demonstrates poor security practices in error handling, where system internals are inadvertently exposed to unauthenticated remote users.
Organizations utilizing CONTENS 3.0 or earlier versions should immediately implement comprehensive input validation measures and strengthen error handling procedures to prevent the exposure of system paths. The recommended mitigations include implementing proper parameter sanitization, employing generic error messages that do not reveal system information, and upgrading to CONTENS versions that have addressed this vulnerability. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify similar information disclosure issues within their application stack and ensure that all error handling mechanisms follow security best practices. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation as fundamental defensive measures against information disclosure attacks.