CVE-2011-3701 in AlegroCart
Summary
by MITRE
AlegroCart 1.2.3 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 common.php and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3701 affects AlegroCart version 1.2.3, a web-based e-commerce platform that suffers from improper error handling mechanisms. This flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability where the application fails to sanitize error messages properly, inadvertently exposing sensitive system details to remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically manifests when attackers make direct requests to php files within the application's directory structure, particularly targeting files such as common.php and similar components that contain error handling code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's lack of proper input validation and error message sanitization. When a malicious user accesses certain php files directly, the application generates error messages that include the full installation path of the web application on the server filesystem. This occurs because the software does not properly handle file access attempts or validate the execution context of php scripts, allowing the underlying filesystem path information to be leaked through error reporting mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-209, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," and represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked installation paths provide attackers with critical reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. The exposed filesystem paths can reveal directory structures, potentially enabling attackers to map the application's architecture and identify other potential entry points. This information disclosure can facilitate subsequent attacks including directory traversal attempts, file inclusion vulnerabilities, and other exploitation techniques that rely on knowledge of the target system's file structure. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers "File and Directory Discovery," as the leaked paths provide attackers with systematic information about the target's filesystem organization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper error handling procedures throughout the application. The primary solution involves configuring the web application to suppress detailed error messages and installation path information from being displayed to end users or remote attackers. This can be achieved through proper error message handling, implementing custom error pages, and ensuring that php configuration settings prevent path disclosure in error messages. Additionally, developers should implement proper input validation and access control mechanisms to prevent direct access to sensitive php files. The application should also be configured to log all access attempts to sensitive files while maintaining the principle of least privilege for file access. Security hardening measures should include disabling error display in production environments and implementing comprehensive logging of all system access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application and ensure that all error handling mechanisms properly sanitize output to prevent information leakage.