CVE-2006-6658 in Inktomi Search
Summary
by MITRE
Inktomi Search 4.1.4 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via direct requests with missing parameters to (1) help/header.html, (2) thesaurus.html, and (3) topics.html, which leak the installation path in the resulting error message, a related issue to CVE-2006-5970.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6658 affects Inktomi Search 4.1.4, a web-based search application that was widely used for enterprise search capabilities. This vulnerability represents a classic information disclosure flaw that occurs when the application fails to properly validate input parameters in specific help and documentation endpoints. The affected files include help/header.html, thesaurus.html, and topics.html which are part of the application's user interface components designed to provide assistance and reference materials to users. When remote attackers send malformed requests containing missing parameters to these specific endpoints, the application generates error messages that inadvertently reveal the server's file system path structure. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of information exposure through error messages, which is categorized as CWE-209 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it provides attackers with detailed system information that can be used for further exploitation attempts.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability stems from the application's inadequate parameter validation and error handling procedures. When the web server receives requests to the specified HTML files without required parameters, the application's processing logic fails to gracefully handle these missing inputs. Instead of implementing proper input sanitization or providing generic error messages, the system returns detailed error responses that contain the absolute file paths where the application is installed on the server. This behavior creates a path disclosure vulnerability that allows attackers to map the server's directory structure and potentially identify other sensitive components or files that might be accessible through the same application. The vulnerability is related to CVE-2006-5970, indicating a pattern of similar path disclosure issues within the Inktomi Search application suite, suggesting systemic design flaws in how the application handles parameter validation and error reporting.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with crucial reconnaissance data that can facilitate more sophisticated attacks. The leaked installation paths can help threat actors identify potential attack vectors, locate configuration files, or discover other applications running on the same server that might have additional vulnerabilities. This information disclosure can be leveraged as a stepping stone for privilege escalation attacks or for targeting other components within the same server environment. From an attacker's perspective, knowing the installation path allows for more targeted exploitation attempts and can significantly reduce the time required for reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability also impacts the overall security posture of organizations using Inktomi Search 4.1.4, as it violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth by exposing internal system information to unauthorized parties.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling mechanisms throughout the application. Organizations should ensure that all web applications implement generic error messages that do not reveal system-specific information such as file paths, server details, or internal architecture. The recommended approach includes configuring the web server to suppress detailed error messages and implementing proper parameter validation that rejects or sanitizes malformed requests before they reach the application logic. Additionally, security patches or updates from the vendor should be applied immediately to address this vulnerability, as Inktomi Search 4.1.4 is an older version that may have additional unpatched security flaws. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of vulnerable applications to external threats. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) as attackers can use the disclosed information to plan more effective exploitation strategies and potentially escalate privileges within the compromised system.