CVE-2008-0260 in minimal Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
minimal Gallery 0.8 allows remote attackers to obtain configuration information via a direct request to php_info.php, which calls the phpinfo function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0260 affects minimal Gallery version 0.8, a web-based photo gallery system that was widely used in the late 2000s for managing digital image collections. This flaw represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that exposes sensitive system configuration details to remote attackers. The vulnerability stems from the improper access control mechanisms within the application's file structure, specifically the presence of a php_info.php file that remains accessible without authentication. This file contains the phpinfo function which outputs comprehensive information about the PHP environment, including server configuration parameters, installed modules, environment variables, and potentially sensitive system details.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a direct HTTP request to the php_info.php endpoint, which bypasses any authentication or authorization checks that should normally protect sensitive system information. When accessed, the phpinfo function generates detailed output containing configuration values such as open_basedir settings, disable_functions directives, PHP version information, and server environment details. This information can be leveraged by attackers to understand the underlying system architecture and identify potential attack vectors for subsequent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-200, which defines information disclosure vulnerabilities, and represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference where a file intended for diagnostic purposes remains accessible to unauthorized users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed configuration data can significantly aid attackers in planning more sophisticated attacks against the affected system. The phpinfo output may reveal database connection strings, file system paths, and other sensitive parameters that could be used to escalate privileges or target other vulnerable components within the same environment. Attackers can use this information to craft targeted attacks against specific PHP configurations, identify disabled functions that might prevent code execution, or discover system paths that could be exploited for local file inclusion vulnerabilities. This information disclosure vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers system information discovery, and T1566, which covers credential access through reconnaissance activities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement access controls to prevent unauthorized access to diagnostic files and ensure that all configuration files remain protected from public access. The recommended mitigation involves removing or renaming the php_info.php file, implementing proper authentication mechanisms for diagnostic endpoints, and conducting comprehensive security reviews of all web applications to identify similar access control flaws. Additionally, system administrators should regularly audit their web server configurations and implement network segmentation to limit access to sensitive system information. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, as well as the necessity of regular security assessments to identify and remediate information disclosure vulnerabilities that could compromise system security.