CVE-2011-1666 in Tine
Summary
by MITRE
Metaways Tine 2.0 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unknown vectors in (1) Crm/Controller.php, (2) Crm/Export/Csv.php, or (3) Calendar/Model/Attender.php, which reveal the full installation path.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1666 affects Metaways Tine 2.0, a web-based collaboration platform that provides CRM and calendar functionalities. This issue represents a sensitive data exposure vulnerability that allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical system information through specific controller and model files within the application's codebase. The vulnerability manifests when certain PHP files fail to properly sanitize error messages or debug output, inadvertently revealing the complete server path where the application is installed.
The technical flaw occurs in three specific files within the Metaways Tine 2.0 framework: Crm/Controller.php, Crm/Export/Csv.php, and Calendar/Model/Attender.php. These components likely contain error handling mechanisms or debugging routines that do not adequately filter or sanitize output before presenting it to users or external systems. When specific conditions are met during application execution, these files generate error messages or status responses that include the full file system path of the installation directory. This type of information disclosure vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it provides attackers with precise knowledge of the server environment and application structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it significantly weakens the security posture of affected systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains access to the complete installation path, which can be used to craft more sophisticated attacks. The disclosed path information enables attackers to understand the application's directory structure, potentially leading to directory traversal attacks, further exploitation of other vulnerabilities, or targeted attacks against specific components within the application. This information disclosure aligns with CWE-209, which describes "Information Exposure Through an Error Message" and is categorized under the broader category of information leakage vulnerabilities.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly concerning when considering the ATT&CK framework's methodology for threat analysis. This vulnerability could enable an adversary to progress through multiple phases of the attack lifecycle, beginning with reconnaissance and information gathering. The disclosed installation paths may facilitate privilege escalation attempts, as attackers can use this information to understand the application's file permissions and directory structure. Additionally, this information disclosure could serve as a foundation for more complex attacks such as remote code execution attempts or privilege escalation within the application's environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper error handling and output sanitization throughout the affected application components. Organizations should ensure that all error messages and debugging information are properly filtered to prevent the exposure of system paths or internal application details. The recommended approach involves implementing centralized error handling routines that sanitize all output before presentation to users, particularly in the controller and model files that were identified as vulnerable. Security patches should be applied immediately to address the root cause, and application developers should implement logging mechanisms to detect and prevent similar issues in the future.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper error handling in web applications. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their web applications to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities that could expose sensitive system information. This includes implementing comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and error handling procedures that prevent the leakage of internal system information. The incident highlights the need for security awareness training for developers and the implementation of security-focused development practices that prioritize defensive coding techniques to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into application code.