CVE-2008-7212 in Mambo
Summary
by MITRE
MOStlyCE before 2.4, as used in Mambo 4.6.3 and earlier, allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via certain requests to mambots/editors/mostlyce/jscripts/tiny_mce/filemanager/connectors/php/connector.php, which reveals the installation path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-7212 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the MOStlyCE editor component, which was integrated into Mambo 4.6.3 and earlier versions. This vulnerability exposes sensitive system information through improperly handled error messages that reveal the absolute file system path of the vulnerable installation. The affected component resides within the filemanager connector path that processes requests through the tiny_mce editor framework, creating an attack surface where remote adversaries can exploit the system's error handling mechanisms to gain knowledge about the underlying server configuration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the PHP connector script. When malformed or unauthorized requests are processed by the connector.php file, the system fails to sanitize error messages properly, resulting in the exposure of the complete installation path. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and represents a classic example of improper error handling that reveals system internals to unauthorized users. The flaw exists because the application does not implement proper exception handling that would prevent sensitive path information from being returned in error responses, directly violating security best practices for secure coding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the revealed installation paths can provide attackers with crucial information for subsequent exploitation attempts. Knowledge of the absolute file system path enables attackers to craft more targeted attacks, potentially leading to directory traversal exploits, local file inclusion vulnerabilities, or other path-based attacks. The exposure of system paths also facilitates reconnaissance activities that can aid in identifying other potential vulnerabilities within the same system. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the T1083 technique for discovering system information, which is often a precursor to more sophisticated attacks. The information disclosed through this vulnerability can significantly reduce the attack surface complexity for threat actors attempting to compromise the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-7212 should focus on implementing proper error handling mechanisms that prevent sensitive information disclosure in error responses. System administrators should immediately upgrade to MOStlyCE version 2.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied data can help prevent the conditions that trigger the vulnerable error handling paths. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious requests targeting known vulnerable paths. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that error messages no longer reveal installation paths while maintaining functional error reporting for legitimate administrative purposes. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of requests that might indicate exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.