CVE-2006-4880 in PHP-Post
Summary
by MITRE
David Bennett PHP-Post (PHPp) 1.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request for (1) footer.php, (2) template.php, or (3) lastvisit.php, which reveals the installation path in various error messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4880 affects David Bennett PHP-Post (PHPp) version 1.0 and earlier, representing a classic information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system details to remote attackers. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of specific PHP files that contain installation path information within error messages, making it a significant security concern for systems running this vulnerable software. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and error handling practices that directly compromise system confidentiality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize error messages and prevent direct access to internal PHP files. When attackers make direct requests for footer.php, template.php, or lastvisit.php, the application generates error responses that inadvertently reveal the full server path where PHPp is installed. This occurs because the software does not implement proper access controls or error message sanitization mechanisms, allowing attackers to extract directory structures and system configurations through simple HTTP requests. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure through error messages, and represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the revealed installation paths can serve as critical reconnaissance data for attackers planning more sophisticated attacks. Once an attacker obtains the server path, they can potentially map the application's directory structure, identify other potentially vulnerable files, and craft more targeted attacks against the system. This information disclosure creates opportunities for privilege escalation, directory traversal attacks, and other exploitation techniques that leverage the exposed system configuration details. The vulnerability also violates security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, particularly the issue of information leakage that undermines overall system security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4880 should focus on implementing proper access controls and error handling mechanisms within the PHPp application. System administrators should immediately upgrade to a patched version of PHPp if available, as this vulnerability represents a known flaw that has likely been addressed in subsequent releases. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and error message sanitization techniques can prevent the exposure of sensitive path information. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to block direct requests to sensitive PHP files and establish proper logging mechanisms to detect and respond to such reconnaissance attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) as attackers can use the disclosed information to plan more advanced attacks against the system infrastructure.