CVE-2006-2250 in CuteNews
Summary
by MITRE
CuteNews 1.4.1 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request to (1) /inc/show.inc.php or (2) /inc/functions.inc.php, which reveal the path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2021
This vulnerability exists in CuteNews 1.4.1, a content management system that suffers from insecure error handling practices leading to information disclosure. The flaw manifests when remote attackers directly request specific script files that contain sensitive path information in their error messages. When these files are accessed without proper validation or sanitization, they generate error responses that inadvertently expose the absolute file system paths of the vulnerable installation. This type of information disclosure vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-209, which specifically addresses information exposure through error messages, and represents a fundamental security weakness in the application's error handling mechanism.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal effort from an attacker as it only requires direct HTTP requests to specific endpoints within the application. The error messages generated by /inc/show.inc.php and /inc/functions.inc.php contain sufficient path information to allow an attacker to understand the complete file system structure of the server hosting CuteNews. This information disclosure can provide attackers with critical insights into the server environment, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as path traversal exploits or targeted attacks against specific system components. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear violation of secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten 2017, specifically category a03, which addresses injection flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more advanced attack vectors. Attackers can use the revealed paths to map the server structure and potentially identify other vulnerable components or misconfigurations within the system. This information can be leveraged to craft more targeted attacks, including directory traversal attempts or exploitation of other vulnerabilities that may exist in the same environment. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles established by the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, particularly in the protection and detection categories, as it exposes system internals without proper access controls or sanitization. The presence of such information disclosure vulnerabilities can significantly weaken an organization's overall security posture and may violate compliance requirements under standards such as PCI DSS, which mandates protection of sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper error handling mechanisms that prevent sensitive information from being exposed in error messages. Organizations should ensure that all error responses are sanitized to remove path information and other system details before being sent to clients. The implementation of custom error pages that do not reveal internal system information is essential. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened to prevent direct access to internal script files, and proper access controls should be implemented to restrict access to sensitive application components. This vulnerability represents a classic example of why defensive programming practices are critical, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1082 for system information discovery, where attackers can use such information to improve their attack vectors. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications and prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced during development phases.