CVE-2007-4072 in Webbler CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Webbler CMS before 3.1.6 provides the full installation path within HTML comments in certain documents, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by viewing the HTML source, as demonstrated by viewing the source generated from index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4072 represents a critical information disclosure flaw in Webbler CMS versions prior to 3.1.6. This vulnerability exposes the complete file system path of the web server installation through HTML comments embedded in the generated web pages. The flaw manifests when the CMS generates HTML output, specifically in documents such as index.php, where the installation path becomes visible in the source code. This type of information disclosure vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure through improper error handling or debugging information disclosure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the CMS's failure to sanitize output before rendering web pages. When the web application processes requests and generates HTML responses, it includes the absolute file path as a comment within the HTML source code. This occurs during the rendering process when the system attempts to provide debugging or operational context to developers or administrators. However, this information is inadvertently exposed to all remote users who can view the HTML source, creating a significant security risk. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and output sanitization practices that violate fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical system information that can be leveraged for further exploitation. The exposed installation paths enable attackers to understand the server's directory structure, potentially revealing sensitive details about the hosting environment, file locations, and system configuration. This information can be used to craft more targeted attacks, such as directory traversal attempts, path-based exploitation, or to identify other potential vulnerabilities within the system. The exposure of the installation path also violates security by design principles and can facilitate attacks that would otherwise be difficult to execute without such knowledge.
The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1592 (Obtain Capabilities) as it enables attackers to gather system information that can be used for reconnaissance and further compromise. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement patches to version 3.1.6 or later, which addresses the improper output handling by removing or sanitizing the installation path from HTML comments. Additionally, security configurations should include input validation measures and output filtering to prevent similar issues in other applications. Regular security assessments and source code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar information disclosure vulnerabilities that could expose system paths or other sensitive information to unauthorized users.