CVE-2007-2800 in eTicket
Summary
by MITRE
index.php in eTicket 1.5.5.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via the (1) name[], (2) email[], (3) phone[], or (4) subject[] parameters, which reveals the installation path in the resulting error messages.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2800 affects eTicket version 1.5.5.1 and earlier, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system details to remote attackers. This vulnerability resides within the index.php script of the eTicket application, which is a ticket management system commonly used for handling support requests and user inquiries. The flaw manifests when attackers submit specially crafted requests containing parameters named name[], email[], phone[], or subject[] which are typically used for form data submission in web applications.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves improper error handling within the application's input validation routines. When these specific parameters are processed by the index.php script, the application fails to sanitize or properly validate the input data before using it in error message generation. This lack of input sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious data that triggers error messages containing the absolute file system path where the application is installed. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-209, which defines "Information Exposure Through an Error Message" as a weakness where error messages reveal sensitive information about the system configuration, including file paths, database structures, or other internal system details.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant security risks to organizations using the affected eTicket version. The exposure of installation paths provides attackers with crucial information for subsequent exploitation attempts, including understanding the directory structure, potential file locations, and system configuration details. This information can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as path traversal exploits, local file inclusion vulnerabilities, or targeted attacks against specific system components. The vulnerability enables attackers to gather intelligence without requiring authentication or direct system access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with network access to the vulnerable application.
The impact extends beyond immediate information disclosure, as this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Information Gathering phase. Attackers can leverage this information to plan more targeted attacks, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or system compromise. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity aspects of the CIA triad, as it exposes system information that should remain private and protected. Organizations may face compliance violations if sensitive system information is disclosed, particularly in regulated environments where information disclosure policies are strictly enforced. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor secure coding practices, specifically the lack of proper input validation and error handling mechanisms that are fundamental to secure application development.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization techniques throughout the application code. The recommended approach includes implementing strict parameter validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious input before processing, eliminating the possibility of error messages revealing system paths. Organizations should upgrade to eTicket version 1.5.6 or later, where this vulnerability has been addressed through improved error handling mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper error handling that does not expose system information in user-facing error messages, combined with comprehensive input sanitization routines, will prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Security configurations should also include logging and monitoring of error conditions to detect potential exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications and systems.