CVE-2006-3170 in CS-Forum
Summary
by MITRE
CS-Forum before 0.82 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified manipulations, possibly involving an empty collapse[] or readall parameter to index.php, which reveals the installation path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3170 affects CS-Forum versions prior to 082 and represents a sensitive data exposure issue that enables remote attackers to extract installation path information through crafted parameter manipulation. This flaw resides within the index.php script and demonstrates a classic information disclosure vulnerability that can provide adversaries with critical system details. The vulnerability manifests when specific parameters such as collapse[] or readall are manipulated in ways that trigger error messages containing the server installation path. This type of information disclosure can significantly aid attackers in planning subsequent exploitation attempts by providing them with knowledge of the target system's file structure and deployment environment.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves improper input validation and error handling within the CS-Forum application. When attackers submit malformed or empty values for the collapse[] or readall parameters, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs before processing them, resulting in error messages that inadvertently reveal the absolute file path where the application is installed. This behavior aligns with CWE-200, which categorizes information exposure vulnerabilities, and represents a common weakness in web applications where insufficient input validation leads to unintended information leakage. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication or privileged access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any remote attacker with basic knowledge of the target system's URL structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the revealed installation path can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can use this information to map the application's directory structure, potentially identifying other vulnerable components or misconfigurations within the same installation. The exposure of the installation path may also reveal the operating system type and potentially the web server configuration, providing additional attack vectors. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can compromise the confidentiality of system information, as it allows unauthorized parties to gain insights into the application's deployment environment that should remain hidden from external observers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3170 should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling practices throughout the application. The primary solution involves sanitizing all user-supplied parameters before processing them, ensuring that empty or malformed values are handled gracefully without generating error messages that contain sensitive information. Organizations should implement comprehensive error handling that prevents the display of internal system paths or configuration details in error messages presented to end users. The fix should involve updating the CS-Forum application to version 082 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved parameter validation and error handling mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper logging of suspicious parameter manipulations can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while following the principle of least privilege in web server configurations can minimize the information available to attackers through various attack vectors. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper error management in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1212 which focuses on data manipulation and information gathering through application vulnerabilities.