CVE-2011-3699 in ADOdb
Summary
by MITRE
John Lim ADOdb Library for PHP 5.11 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request to a .php file, which reveals the installation path in an error message, as demonstrated by tests/test-active-record.php and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3699 affects the John Lim ADOdb Library for PHP version 5.11, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system details to remote attackers. This vulnerability stems from the library's inadequate error handling mechanisms within its PHP implementation, specifically when processing direct requests to .php files. The flaw manifests when error conditions occur during script execution, causing the application to reveal the absolute installation path of the affected system through error messages. This type of information disclosure represents a fundamental security weakness that directly violates security principle of least privilege and can provide attackers with crucial reconnaissance data for subsequent attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through direct access to specific PHP files within the ADOdb library installation, particularly targeting test files such as tests/test-active-record.php and other related components. When these files encounter runtime errors or invalid operations, the PHP error reporting mechanism inadvertently exposes the full file system path where the application is installed. This occurs because the library's error handling routines do not properly sanitize or suppress error messages that contain system path information. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-209, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, "Exploitation for Credential Access," as the disclosed path information can facilitate more sophisticated attacks. The exposure of installation paths provides attackers with precise knowledge of the system's directory structure, potentially enabling them to identify other vulnerable components or locate sensitive configuration files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more advanced attack vectors. Attackers who obtain the installation path can use this information to craft more targeted attacks against the specific environment, potentially identifying version-specific vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. The disclosed path information may reveal the underlying operating system, web server configuration, and application structure, all of which can be leveraged to plan further exploitation attempts. Organizations running vulnerable versions of the ADOdb library face significant risk, as this information disclosure can be combined with other reconnaissance techniques to identify additional attack surfaces. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security hygiene in the library's error management, which can lead to cascading security issues if the exposed path information allows attackers to access other sensitive files or directories within the application's scope.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper error handling within the ADOdb library installation. System administrators should ensure that error reporting is disabled in production environments by configuring PHP's error_reporting directive to suppress detailed error messages. The recommended approach involves setting error_reporting to E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE & ~E_STRICT & ~E_DEPRECATED, and configuring display_errors to Off in php.ini. Additionally, organizations should implement custom error handlers that log errors without exposing sensitive information to end users. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the ADOdb library that properly sanitizes error messages and does not reveal installation paths. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify other components that may be using vulnerable versions of the library, ensuring comprehensive protection across the entire application stack. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify that no sensitive information is being disclosed through error conditions in any application components.