CVE-2007-0375 in Joomla
Summary
by MITRE
Joomla! 1.5.0 Beta allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request for (1) plugins/user/example.php; (2) gmail.php, (3) example.php, or (4) ldap.php in plugins/authentication/; (5) modules/mod_mainmenu/menu.php; or other unspecified PHP scripts, which reveals the path in various error messages, related to a jimport function call at the beginning of each script.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-0375 represents a critical information disclosure issue within Joomla! version 1.5.0 Beta that exposes system paths through error messages generated during script execution. This flaw affects multiple PHP scripts across different directories including authentication plugins and menu modules, making it a widespread concern for system security. The vulnerability stems from improper error handling mechanisms that reveal sensitive filesystem information when scripts are accessed directly rather than through proper application interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the jimport function call at the beginning of affected scripts, which when executed in an improper context triggers error messages containing full filesystem paths. These paths are typically revealed in error messages that occur when the system attempts to import required libraries but fails due to the direct access pattern. The affected scripts include plugins/user/example.php, plugins/authentication/gmail.php, plugins/authentication/example.php, plugins/authentication/ldap.php, and modules/mod_mainmenu/menu.php among others. This direct script access pattern bypasses normal application flow controls and exposes internal system architecture information.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for attackers seeking to map the target system's filesystem structure and understand the underlying infrastructure. The disclosed paths can be leveraged to craft more sophisticated attacks by providing attackers with knowledge of system layout, directory structures, and potentially identifying other vulnerabilities through path-based reconnaissance. The information disclosure occurs without authentication requirements, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any remote attacker with basic network access. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-200, which describes improper error handling that reveals sensitive information, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 for exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper access controls and error handling mechanisms. Organizations should ensure that all PHP scripts are accessed through the proper application framework rather than direct URL access, which can be achieved through proper .htaccess configurations or application-level access controls. Additionally, error messages should be sanitized to remove any path information before being displayed to users, and logging mechanisms should be implemented to monitor for unauthorized direct script access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation, particularly in web applications that handle user authentication and system integration components. Security hardening practices should include disabling direct access to system files and implementing proper error handling that does not expose system internals, thereby reducing the attack surface and preventing information disclosure that could facilitate more advanced exploitation techniques.