CVE-2008-3060 in V-webmail
Summary
by MITRE
V-webmail 1.5.0 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via (1) malformed input in the login page (includes/local.hooks.php) and (2) an invalid session ID, which reveals the installation path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-3060 affects V-webmail version 1.5.0 and represents a critical information disclosure issue that exposes system details to remote attackers. This vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that collectively enable unauthorized access to sensitive system information. The first vector involves malformed input submitted to the login page, specifically targeting the includes/local.hooks.php file, while the second vector exploits invalid session IDs to reveal the installation path through error messages. Both attack paths demonstrate poor input validation and error handling practices that directly violate fundamental security principles.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user inputs and improper error message generation within the web application. When malformed data is submitted to the login page, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before processing it through the local.hooks.php component. This weakness creates an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and extract sensitive information from error responses. The invalid session ID exploitation further compounds the issue by leveraging the application's error handling mechanisms to disclose the complete installation path, which constitutes a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and information hiding. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure Through Output Error Messages," and CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," both of which are fundamental weaknesses in web application security.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3060 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the revealed installation path provides attackers with crucial intelligence for subsequent attacks. Knowledge of the system's file structure enables attackers to craft more targeted exploitation techniques, potentially leading to privilege escalation, directory traversal attacks, or other advanced persistent threats. The vulnerability creates a reconnaissance opportunity that significantly reduces the attack surface for more sophisticated attacks while simultaneously increasing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity aspects of the CIA triad, as it allows unauthorized disclosure of system information that could be leveraged for further compromise.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation for this vulnerability, beginning with proper input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data. The application must be configured to handle malformed inputs gracefully without exposing system details through error messages. Additionally, session management should be strengthened to prevent invalid session ID exploitation, and error handling should be designed to provide generic responses to users while logging detailed information for administrators. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1083, "File and Directory Discovery," as attackers can use this information to map the system's file structure. Organizations should also implement proper web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms to prevent the exploitation of such vulnerabilities, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify similar weaknesses in their web applications.