CVE-2011-3703 in AneCMS
Summary
by MITRE
AneCMS 1.0 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 widgets/menu/index.php and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3703 affects AneCMS version 1.0 and represents a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system details to remote attackers. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper error handling and sensitive data exposure, which aligns with CWE-209 and CWE-497. The flaw occurs when specific php files within the cms are accessed directly without proper authentication or input validation, resulting in error messages that inadvertently reveal the server installation path. This type of vulnerability demonstrates poor security hygiene in application error handling and represents a significant risk to system confidentiality and operational security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper access controls and error message sanitization within the AneCMS framework. When attackers make direct requests to files such as widgets/menu/index.php, the application fails to validate the request context or sanitize error outputs, leading to the exposure of the complete file system path where the cms is installed. This information disclosure creates a foundation for further attacks, as attackers can use the revealed paths to understand the server structure, potentially identifying other vulnerable components or file locations that may contain sensitive data or configuration files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with crucial reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for subsequent exploitation attempts. The exposed installation paths can reveal directory structures, file naming conventions, and potentially even version-specific information that may be used to identify other vulnerabilities within the same system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories and T1083 for file and directory discovery, as attackers can systematically enumerate system resources using the disclosed information. The exposure of installation paths also violates security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 controls related to information security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3703 require immediate implementation of proper input validation, access control mechanisms, and error handling procedures. Organizations should ensure that all php files within the cms are protected through proper authentication checks and that error messages do not contain system-specific information such as file paths or server details. The recommended approach includes implementing centralized error handling that sanitizes all error outputs, enforcing proper directory permissions, and ensuring that direct access to internal php files is restricted through proper routing mechanisms. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack, following the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the CERT Secure Coding Standards.