CVE-2011-1103 in Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The WebReporting module in F-Secure Policy Manager 7.x, 8.00 before hotfix 2, 8.1x before hotfix 3 on Windows and hotfix 2 on Linux, and 9.00 before hotfix 4 on Windows and hotfix 2 on Linux, allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a request to an invalid report, which reveals the installation path in an error message, as demonstrated with requests to (1) report/infection-table.html or (2) report/productsummary-table.html.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1103 resides within the WebReporting module of F-Secure Policy Manager software across multiple versions including 7.x, 8.00, 8.1x, and 9.00. This security flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that occurs when the system fails to properly handle invalid requests, specifically targeting report endpoints. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it exposes critical system information through error messages generated during processing of malformed requests, creating a direct pathway for attackers to gather sensitive installation path data that could be used for further exploitation attempts.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the WebReporting module's insufficient input validation and error handling procedures. When remote attackers send requests to invalid report endpoints such as report/infection-table.html or report/productsummary-table.html, the system generates error responses that inadvertently include the complete installation path of the F-Secure Policy Manager application. This occurs because the software does not sanitize error messages before returning them to the client, allowing path traversal information to leak through the network interface. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 as "Information Exposure" and specifically relates to CWE-209 "Information Exposure Through an Error Message" which directly addresses the disclosure of sensitive information through error handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with crucial system architecture knowledge that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks. The exposed installation paths could enable adversaries to understand the application's directory structure, potentially leading to path traversal attacks, privilege escalation attempts, or targeted exploitation of other vulnerabilities within the same system. This information leakage creates a reconnaissance advantage for threat actors, allowing them to better plan subsequent attacks against the system. The vulnerability affects multiple versions across different operating systems, indicating a widespread issue within the F-Secure Policy Manager product line and suggesting that the root cause lies in fundamental design flaws within the WebReporting module's error handling architecture.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the T1083 "File and Directory Discovery" technique, as the vulnerability directly enables adversaries to discover system file paths and directory structures. Additionally, the vulnerability aligns with T1068 "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" as the leaked information could be used to craft more effective attacks against the system. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided hotfixes for their specific version and operating system combinations, as well as implementing network-level controls to restrict access to the affected endpoints. System administrators should also consider implementing robust error handling procedures and input validation controls to prevent similar issues from occurring in other applications within their environment. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper error message handling in security-sensitive applications and serves as a reminder that seemingly benign information disclosure vulnerabilities can significantly weaken overall system security posture.