CVE-2008-2723 in Menalto
Summary
by MITRE
embed.php in Menalto Gallery before 2.2.5 allows remote attackers to obtain the full path via unknown vectors related to "spoofing the remote address."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2723 affects Menalto Gallery versions prior to 2.2.5 and specifically targets the embed.php script. This issue represents a path disclosure vulnerability that occurs when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize remote address information during the embedding process. The flaw enables remote attackers to obtain the full server path through manipulation of address spoofing mechanisms within the application's architecture. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of remote address parameters that are processed by the embed.php component.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly sanitize or validate remote address information when processing embedded content requests. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that manipulate the remote address spoofing functionality, ultimately leading to the exposure of the complete server file path. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category for Information Exposure and is classified as a path traversal or path disclosure issue. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it occurs during legitimate embedding operations, making it difficult to distinguish between normal and malicious traffic patterns.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2723 extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with critical system information that can be leveraged for further exploitation. Full path disclosure enables adversaries to understand the application's directory structure, file locations, and potentially identify other vulnerabilities within the system. This information can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks including directory traversal attempts, local file inclusion exploits, or targeted attacks against specific system components. The vulnerability also violates the principle of least privilege by exposing system internals to unauthorized parties. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) techniques, as it provides reconnaissance capabilities that can lead to privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Menalto Gallery application to version 2.2.5 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the path disclosure issue. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and sanitization measures for all remote address parameters, particularly those used in embedding functionality. Network-based mitigations include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious address spoofing patterns, while application-level protections should enforce strict validation of remote address information before processing. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components, particularly those handling user-supplied data or remote address information. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for unusual access patterns or attempts to gather system information that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability, as the disclosure of system paths often precedes more serious attacks in the exploitation lifecycle.