CVE-2009-2115 in SkyBlueCanvas
Summary
by MITRE
admin.php in SkyBlueCanvas 1.1 r237 allows remote authenticated administrators to obtain sensitive information via an invalid id parameter, which reveals the installation path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2115 affects SkyBlueCanvas version 1.1 r237 and represents a sensitive data exposure issue within the administrative interface. This flaw exists in the admin.php script where remote authenticated administrators can manipulate the id parameter to trigger error messages that inadvertently reveal the system's installation path. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms within the application's administrative components, allowing malicious actors with administrative credentials to gain information that could aid in further exploitation attempts.
This security weakness falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities and aligns with CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor. The specific flaw demonstrates poor error handling practices where the application fails to sanitize user input properly before processing it, resulting in the direct revelation of system paths through error messages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker who has already compromised administrative credentials can leverage this flaw to gather additional intelligence about the target system's configuration and deployment structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the revealed installation paths can provide attackers with critical system layout information that may be used for subsequent attacks. Attackers can use this knowledge to understand the application's directory structure, potentially identifying other files or components that might be vulnerable to exploitation. This information disclosure creates opportunities for privilege escalation attacks, as attackers can use the revealed paths to craft more targeted attacks against the system's file structure. The vulnerability also violates security best practices established in the OWASP Top Ten, particularly the category of information leakage, which emphasizes the importance of not exposing system internals to unauthorized users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling mechanisms within the administrative interface. The application should sanitize all user inputs, particularly those used in parameter processing, and ensure that error messages do not contain system-specific information such as installation paths. Organizations should implement comprehensive logging of administrative activities to detect unusual parameter manipulation attempts and establish proper access controls to limit administrative privileges to only necessary personnel. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation issues that could lead to information disclosure vulnerabilities, following the ATT&CK framework's approach to identifying and mitigating reconnaissance activities that could lead to more serious exploitation attempts.