CVE-2007-5130 in SimpGB
Summary
by MITRE
SimpGB 1.46.02 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via (1) an invalid lang parameter to admin/index.php or (2) a direct request to admin/trailer.php, which reveals the path in various error messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5130 affects SimpGB version 1.46.02, a content management system that suffers from insecure error handling practices leading to information disclosure. This flaw represents a classic example of insufficient error handling and improper input validation, which together create a pathway for attackers to extract sensitive system information. The vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that exploit the application's failure to properly sanitize user inputs and handle error conditions gracefully.
The primary attack vector involves sending an invalid lang parameter to the admin/index.php script, while the secondary vector occurs through direct requests to admin/trailer.php. Both scenarios result in the application revealing directory paths and other sensitive information through error messages that are not properly sanitized or suppressed. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and specifically relates to CWE-119 which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited access scope. The exposure of system paths through error messages provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance information that can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks against the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to gain insights into the server's file structure and potentially identify other vulnerabilities within the application or underlying system. When error messages contain full or partial file paths, they can reveal the operating system, server configuration, and application structure to unauthorized users. This information can be leveraged to craft targeted attacks, identify potential privilege escalation opportunities, or discover other components that may be vulnerable to similar issues. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 which involves exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities to gain system information for further attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5130 should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling practices throughout the application. All user inputs, particularly those used in parameter processing, should be validated against expected formats and values before being processed. Error messages should be generic and not contain sensitive system information such as file paths, directory structures, or internal application details. The application should implement comprehensive error handling that suppresses detailed error information from being displayed to end users while logging such information securely for administrative review. Additionally, access controls should be enforced to ensure that administrative scripts like admin/index.php and admin/trailer.php are not directly accessible by unauthorized users. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper security controls during the development lifecycle to prevent such information disclosure scenarios from occurring in production environments.