CVE-2006-0794 in V-webmail
Summary
by MITRE
help.php in V-webmail 1.6.2 allows remote attackers to obtain the installation path via unspecified invalid parameters. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0794 affects V-webmail version 1.6.2 and resides in the help.php script which exposes sensitive installation path information to remote attackers. This represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that falls under the category of path traversal or installation path exposure issues. The flaw manifests when the application processes unspecified invalid parameters within the help.php component, leading to the revelation of the server's physical installation path through the application's response handling mechanism.
This vulnerability operates through a fundamental flaw in input validation and error handling within the webmail application's help functionality. When malformed or invalid parameters are submitted to the help.php script, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs and instead returns detailed error messages or response data that inadvertently includes the absolute file path where the application is installed on the server. The unspecified nature of the invalid parameters suggests that the vulnerability may be triggered through various parameter manipulation techniques or by exploiting the application's parameter parsing logic. This type of vulnerability directly relates to CWE-200 which defines information exposure through error messages and represents a significant security risk for web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed installation paths can provide attackers with critical intelligence for subsequent exploitation attempts. Knowledge of the physical file structure allows attackers to better understand the application's architecture and potentially identify other vulnerabilities through path-based attacks or privilege escalation techniques. Attackers can leverage this information to craft more sophisticated attacks, including directory traversal exploits, or to map the server's file system structure for further reconnaissance. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles by exposing system internals through application responses, which can aid in bypassing security controls and understanding the application's attack surface.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 which covers directory and file system discovery. The information disclosure aspect of this vulnerability can be categorized under the broader category of reconnaissance activities that precede more destructive attacks. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a larger attack chain where initial reconnaissance leads to more significant compromise opportunities. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or credentials to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous as it can be discovered and exploited through automated scanning tools.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-0794 should focus on implementing robust input validation and error handling mechanisms within the webmail application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user inputs and ensuring that error messages do not contain sensitive path information or system details. Organizations should implement proper error handling that returns generic error responses regardless of input parameters, preventing the exposure of installation paths. Additionally, the application should be updated to a newer version of V-webmail that addresses this vulnerability, as version 1.6.2 appears to be outdated and potentially vulnerable to additional security issues. Security configurations should include disabling verbose error messages in production environments and implementing proper logging mechanisms to detect and respond to exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in legacy applications.