CVE-2011-3724 in CubeCart
Summary
by MITRE
CubeCart 4.4.3 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 modules/shipping/USPS/calc.php and certain other files.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3724 represents a critical information disclosure flaw in CubeCart 4.4.3 e-commerce platform that exposes installation paths through improper error handling mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the category of information exposure vulnerabilities as defined by CWE-200, where sensitive system information is inadvertently revealed to unauthorized users. The flaw specifically manifests when remote attackers can directly access php files within the application's directory structure, particularly targeting modules/shipping/USPS/calc.php and similar components, which generate error messages containing the full server path. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and error handling practices that are fundamental to secure software development.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through direct HTTP requests to specific php files within the CubeCart installation directory. When these files encounter errors during execution, they fail to sanitize error messages before displaying them to users, thereby leaking the absolute server path where the application is installed. This information disclosure vulnerability enables attackers to gather sensitive system information that could aid in subsequent attacks, including directory traversal attacks, path traversal exploits, and other privilege escalation techniques. The exposure of installation paths provides attackers with crucial information about the server environment, file structure, and potentially the operating system in use, which significantly reduces the attack surface and increases the likelihood of successful exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3724 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked installation paths can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within the application's attack surface. Attackers can leverage this information to craft targeted attacks against specific modules, understand the application's architecture, and potentially identify other vulnerable components within the same directory structure. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1213 (Data from Information Repositories) as it provides adversaries with systematic access to directory structures and sensitive path information that would otherwise remain hidden. The exposure of server paths can also facilitate bypassing of security controls that rely on path-based access restrictions, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive application components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper error handling mechanisms and input validation throughout the CubeCart application. Organizations should ensure that all php files implement comprehensive error handling that does not expose system paths or sensitive information in error messages. The recommended approach involves configuring the web server to suppress detailed error messages and implementing custom error pages that do not reveal installation paths or system information. Additionally, developers should implement proper file access controls and validate all user inputs to prevent direct access to internal application files. Security hardening measures should include disabling directory listing, implementing proper authentication mechanisms for sensitive files, and ensuring that all error handling routines sanitize output to remove any path information before display. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST SP 800-53 security controls, particularly those related to input validation and error handling.