CVE-2006-3938 in DotClear
Summary
by MITRE
DotClear allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request for (1) edit_cat.php, (2) index.php, (3) edit_link.php in ecrire/tools/blogroll/; (4) syslog/index.php, (5) thememng/index.php, (6) toolsmng/index.php, (7) utf8convert/index.php in /ecrire/tools/; (8) /ecrire/inc/connexion.php and (9) /inc/session.php; (10) class.blog.php, (11) class.blogcomment.php, (12) and class.blogpost.php in /inc/classes/; (13) append.php, (14) class.xblog.php, (15) class.xblogcomment.php, and (16) class.xblogpost.php in /layout/; (17) form.php, (18) list.php, (19) post.php, or (20) template.php in /themes/default/, which reveal the installation path in error messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2018
This vulnerability in DotClear represents a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system paths through improperly handled error messages. The vulnerability affects multiple script files across different directories within the DotClear application, including administrative tools, core classes, and theme components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by directly requesting specific PHP files that contain error handling code which inadvertently reveals the server's file system structure through error messages. The affected files span across the application's core functionality including category management, link editing, system logging, theme management, and various class definitions that handle blog operations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure, and represents a fundamental flaw in input validation and error handling practices. The exposure of installation paths provides attackers with crucial information that can be leveraged for subsequent attacks, including directory traversal attempts and targeted exploitation of other vulnerabilities that may exist within the disclosed paths.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it significantly weakens the overall security posture of DotClear installations. When error messages reveal the complete file system paths, attackers gain valuable reconnaissance information that can be used to craft more sophisticated attacks against the application. The vulnerability affects both administrative and frontend components of the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users with minimal privileges. The exposure occurs in multiple locations including the core application files, tools directory, and various class implementations, indicating a systemic issue with how error conditions are handled throughout the application. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which covers exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities to gain insights into system architecture. The affected files include connection handling scripts, session management components, and core blog functionality classes, all of which may contain additional sensitive information when error conditions occur.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper error handling practices throughout the DotClear application. System administrators should ensure that all error messages are sanitized to prevent path disclosure and implement custom error pages that do not reveal internal system information. The fix should involve modifying the error handling code in all affected files to suppress detailed path information in error messages while maintaining appropriate logging for legitimate debugging purposes. Security configurations should be adjusted to disable PHP error display in production environments and implement proper input validation to prevent the conditions that trigger these error messages. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block direct requests to these specific files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and proper error handling as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for web application security. Regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the application, and developers should be trained on secure error handling techniques to prevent recurrence of such vulnerabilities in future releases.