CVE-2007-3259 in Calendarix
Summary
by MITRE
Calendarix 0.7.20070307 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via (1) an invalid month[] parameter to calendar.php, (2) an invalid catview[] parameter to cal_week.php in a week operation, (3) an invalid ycyear[] parameter to yearcal.php, or (4) a direct request to cal_functions.inc.php, which reveals the installation path in various 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 described in CVE-2007-3259 represents a significant information disclosure issue within the Calendarix web application version 0.7.20070307. This flaw exposes sensitive system information through improper error handling mechanisms that occur when the application processes malformed input parameters. The vulnerability affects multiple entry points within the calendar application, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit various paths to obtain system information without requiring authentication or advanced privileges. The root cause lies in the application's failure to properly validate user input before processing, leading to the generation of detailed error messages that inadvertently reveal critical system paths and configuration details.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through several distinct attack vectors that target different components of the Calendarix application. The first vector involves sending an invalid month[] parameter to calendar.php, while the second targets cal_week.php with an invalid catview[] parameter during week operations. The third vector exploits yearcal.php through an invalid ycyear[] parameter, and the fourth vector allows direct access to cal_functions.inc.php to retrieve installation path information. Each of these attack paths demonstrates a common weakness in input validation and error handling practices, where the application fails to sanitize or properly handle unexpected input values. This results in the exposure of sensitive information through error messages that contain absolute file paths, server configuration details, and potentially other system-specific information that could aid in further exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed installation paths provide attackers with crucial reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. The revelation of absolute file paths in error messages creates opportunities for directory traversal attacks, local file inclusion vulnerabilities, and other exploitation techniques that rely on knowing the application's filesystem structure. According to CWE-200, this vulnerability maps directly to the weakness of exposing sensitive information through error messages, which falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities. The exposure of system paths can enable attackers to craft more targeted attacks against the underlying infrastructure, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise. Additionally, this information disclosure aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) as attackers can use the revealed paths to understand the application's deployment structure and identify potential attack surfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and error handling mechanisms throughout the Calendarix application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters before processing, implementing generic error messages that do not reveal system-specific information, and ensuring that error handling routines do not expose installation paths or other sensitive details. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malformed requests targeting these specific parameters. The remediation process should include comprehensive code reviews to identify all input validation points and ensure that error handling follows secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other parts of the application or related systems. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping web applications updated and patched, as this specific version of Calendarix is outdated and likely contains other unpatched security issues that could compound the risks associated with this information disclosure vulnerability.