CVE-2007-1574 in CARE2X
Summary
by MITRE
CARE2X 2.2, and possibly earlier, allows remote attackers to obtain configuration information via a direct request to phpinfo.php, which calls the phpinfo function. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1574 affects CARE2X version 2.2 and potentially earlier releases, presenting a critical information disclosure risk that enables remote attackers to access sensitive system configuration data. This flaw exists due to the direct accessibility of the phpinfo.php file within the application's web directory structure, which when accessed remotely triggers the execution of the phpinfo function. The phpinfo function in php environments is designed to display extensive information about the current state of the php configuration, including server details, loaded modules, configuration settings, and potentially sensitive environment variables that could aid attackers in understanding the underlying system architecture.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and poor security configuration within the CARE2X application framework. When an attacker can directly request phpinfo.php without authentication or authorization checks, they gain access to comprehensive php runtime information that may include database connection details, file paths, server software versions, and other configuration parameters that could be leveraged for further exploitation. This represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerability where the application fails to properly validate or restrict access to sensitive administrative files. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and CWE-22 (Path Traversal) categories, as it exposes system information through improper file access controls and potentially allows for path traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked configuration information provides attackers with valuable intelligence for planning more sophisticated attacks against the system. The exposure of php configuration details could reveal database connection strings, file system locations, and server environment variables that might be used to craft targeted attacks or identify additional vulnerabilities within the application or underlying infrastructure. This information disclosure could enable attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, identify weak points in the system configuration, or even discover other vulnerable components within the same network environment. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1592 (Get Access) as attackers can discover system files and gain access to sensitive information without proper authorization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate access control implementation and configuration hardening. Organizations should immediately remove or rename the phpinfo.php file from the web-accessible directory structure to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, implementing proper authentication mechanisms and access controls for administrative files should be enforced through web server configuration or application-level access control lists. The application should be updated to a patched version that properly restricts access to configuration files, and comprehensive security audits should be performed to identify and remediate similar access control vulnerabilities throughout the application. Regular security testing including penetration testing and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to detect such misconfigurations before they can be exploited by malicious actors.