CVE-2006-4989 in Wili-CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Patrick Michaelis Wili-CMS allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request for (1) thumbnail.php, (2) functions/admin/all.php, (3) functions/admin/init_session.php, (4) functions/all.php, and (5) certain files in example-view/admin_templates/, which reveals the path in various error messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4989 affects Patrick Michaelis Wili-CMS, a content management system that exposes critical system information through improper error handling mechanisms. This weakness resides in the application's failure to sanitize error messages properly, allowing attackers to extract sensitive path information from various script files within the system. The vulnerability specifically impacts five key files including thumbnail.php, functions/admin/all.php, functions/admin/init_session.php, functions/all.php, and several files located in the example-view/admin_templates/ directory. These locations represent critical components of the CMS architecture where the system's internal file structure becomes visible through error responses generated during normal operation.
The technical flaw manifests as a path disclosure vulnerability that operates under CWE-200, which categorizes improper error handling as a weakness leading to information exposure. When remote attackers make direct requests to these specific files, the system generates error messages that inadvertently reveal the absolute file paths used by the CMS installation. This occurs because the application does not properly validate or sanitize inputs before processing them, resulting in error messages that contain system-specific directory structures. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and represents a classic case of insufficient logging and error handling practices that expose system internals to unauthorized parties.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical infrastructure knowledge that can be leveraged for further exploitation. The revealed path information can be used to understand the system's directory structure, potentially enabling attackers to craft more sophisticated attacks against other components within the same installation. This information disclosure creates opportunities for directory traversal attacks, file inclusion vulnerabilities, and other exploitation techniques that rely on knowing the underlying system architecture. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad by exposing system internals that should remain hidden from external parties.
Security professionals should implement multiple mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary approach involves modifying the application's error handling mechanisms to ensure that all error messages are properly sanitized before being displayed to users. This includes implementing custom error pages that do not reveal system paths or file locations, and configuring the web server to suppress detailed error messages in production environments. Additionally, access controls should be strengthened to limit direct access to sensitive system files, and input validation should be implemented to prevent unauthorized requests to administrative components. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious requests targeting these specific files, as outlined in the attack patterns documented under the MITRE ATT&CK framework for information gathering techniques.
The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper security configuration and error handling practices in web applications. It highlights how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security risks when combined with other attack vectors. Regular security assessments and code reviews should focus on identifying similar path disclosure vulnerabilities across all application components, as these issues often remain undetected for extended periods due to their subtle nature and the limited visibility they provide to attackers. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that error handling is consistent across all application modules while maintaining functionality for legitimate debugging purposes.