CVE-2005-4508 in Dev Hound
Summary
by MITRE
Nexus Concepts Dev Hound 2.24 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain the installation path via a URL containing a non-existent .dll file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4508 affects Nexus Concepts Dev Hound version 2.24 and earlier, representing a significant information disclosure weakness that exposes system installation paths to remote attackers. This flaw resides in the application's handling of malformed requests containing non-existent dll files within URL parameters, creating an avenue for adversaries to gather sensitive system information that could facilitate subsequent attack phases. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-200, which encompasses information exposure issues where systems inadvertently reveal internal details that could aid in exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the Dev Hound application's file resolution mechanism. When a remote attacker crafts a URL request containing a reference to a non-existent dll file, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before processing. Instead of gracefully handling the missing file scenario, the system returns detailed error messages that inadvertently disclose the complete installation path where the application is deployed. This occurs because the application's error handling routine includes absolute file paths in its response, providing attackers with precise directory structures that could be leveraged for further reconnaissance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical system architecture knowledge that can significantly aid in planning more sophisticated attacks. The exposed installation paths could reveal directory structures, file naming conventions, and potentially even version-specific information that helps adversaries identify other vulnerabilities within the same system or related components. This information disclosure weakness creates a foundation for privilege escalation attempts, as attackers can use the revealed paths to craft more targeted attacks against specific files or directories. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which focuses on discovering system information, and T1068, which addresses exploit private vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate application updates to versions that address the improper error handling mechanism. Organizations should implement input validation controls that prevent arbitrary file path references from being processed without proper sanitization, ensuring that all file access requests are properly validated against legitimate application paths. Network-level controls such as web application firewalls can be configured to detect and block requests containing suspicious file path patterns, while application-level logging should be enhanced to monitor for unusual file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the same environment, as this type of information disclosure flaw often indicates broader architectural weaknesses in input handling and error management. Additionally, implementing proper error handling that does not expose system paths in user-facing responses represents a fundamental security practice that should be integrated into all application development processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases.