CVE-2006-3386 in News
Summary
by MITRE
index.php in Vincent Leclercq News 5.2 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information, such as the installation path, via a mail[] parameter with invalid values.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3386 affects Vincent Leclercq News version 5.2, specifically within the index.php script. This issue represents a sensitive information disclosure flaw that enables remote attackers to extract potentially valuable system information through crafted input parameters. The vulnerability manifests when the mail[] parameter receives invalid values, which causes the application to reveal internal installation paths and other sensitive data elements. Such information disclosure vulnerabilities fall under the category of CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and error handling mechanisms within the application's codebase, creating an avenue for attackers to gather reconnaissance data that could be leveraged in subsequent attack phases.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or validate user input before processing. When invalid values are submitted through the mail[] parameter, the system generates error messages or debug information that inadvertently includes the absolute installation path of the application. This occurs due to insufficient error handling routines that do not properly mask or filter sensitive path information before it is returned to the client. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through HTTP requests without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it allows any remote attacker to probe the system. This type of information disclosure aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers the discovery of system information through various reconnaissance methods, and demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation gaps can result in significant security implications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed installation paths can provide attackers with critical system layout information that facilitates more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who obtains the installation path can use this information to craft targeted attacks against specific file locations, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities such as local file inclusion vulnerabilities or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability also undermines the principle of least privilege by exposing internal system structure information that should remain confidential. From a defensive perspective, this flaw highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and error handling practices throughout the application lifecycle. The affected system demonstrates poor security hygiene in error message generation, where detailed system information is exposed to unauthorized users. This vulnerability could potentially be exploited as part of a broader attack chain, where the disclosed path information serves as a foundation for more advanced exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3386 should focus on implementing robust input validation and error handling mechanisms within the application. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user input parameters, particularly those that may trigger error conditions, and ensuring that error messages do not contain sensitive system information. Security practitioners should implement proper exception handling that masks or filters out installation paths and other system details from error responses. The fix should involve modifying the index.php script to validate the mail[] parameter values before processing and to generate generic error messages that do not disclose internal system information. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious parameter patterns, as well as conducting regular security code reviews to identify similar input validation issues. This vulnerability underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices and adhering to security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, which emphasizes the importance of proper input validation and error handling in preventing information disclosure attacks. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing to ensure that no other parameters within the application exhibit similar vulnerabilities, as the presence of one such flaw often indicates broader security weaknesses in the application's architecture.