CVE-2009-2134 in pivot
Summary
by MITRE
pivot/tb.php in Pivot 1.40.4 and 1.40.7 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via an invalid url parameter, which reveals the installation path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2134 affects Pivot content management system versions 1.40.4 and 1.40.7, specifically within the pivot/tb.php component. This issue represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that occurs when the application fails to properly validate user input parameters. The flaw manifests when an attacker submits an invalid url parameter to the tb.php script, which subsequently generates an error message containing the system's installation path. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-200, Information Exposure, where sensitive system information is inadvertently revealed to unauthorized parties through error handling mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of proper input sanitization and error handling practices within the application's codebase.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to validate the url parameter before processing it within the tb.php script. When an invalid parameter is provided, the system does not gracefully handle the error condition but instead outputs detailed error information including the absolute file path where Pivot is installed. This occurs because the application's error handling routine is configured to display full stack traces or error messages that contain system-specific paths and configuration details. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it provides attackers with precise knowledge of the server's file structure, which can serve as a foundation for further exploitation attempts. The error message disclosure mechanism operates at the application level rather than network level, making it a software implementation flaw rather than a network protocol issue.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Knowledge of the installation path enables attackers to craft targeted attacks that exploit specific file locations, potentially leading to directory traversal vulnerabilities or other path-related exploits. This information disclosure can be particularly damaging in environments where the application is installed in non-standard directories or where the installation path contains sensitive information about the system configuration. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) as it allows adversaries to enumerate system paths and potentially identify other sensitive files or directories. Additionally, this vulnerability can be chained with other exploits to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to system resources, making it a significant security risk for any organization using affected Pivot versions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2134 should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling mechanisms within the Pivot application. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of Pivot that addresses this vulnerability, as the affected versions are no longer supported and likely contain additional unpatched security flaws. The recommended approach involves configuring the application to suppress detailed error messages and instead display generic error responses to users. This aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and follows the principle of least privilege in error handling. System administrators should also implement proper logging and monitoring to detect attempts to exploit this vulnerability, while ensuring that error messages are not exposed to end users. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of defensive programming practices and proper error handling as outlined in the CWE guidelines for information exposure prevention.