CVE-2011-3729 in dotproject
Summary
by MITRE
dotproject 2.1.4 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 style/dp-grey-theme/footer.php and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3729 affects dotproject version 2.1.4, a web-based project management application that suffers from improper error handling mechanisms. This flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability where the application fails to properly sanitize error messages before displaying them 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 style/dp-grey-theme/footer.php and similar components. The system's error handling routine inadvertently exposes the absolute installation path of the web application through error messages, providing attackers with critical system information that can be leveraged for further exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and specifically relates to CWE-209 "Information Exposure Through an Error Message" as detailed in the CWE database. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in input validation and error handling practices within the dotproject application, where the developers failed to implement proper sanitization of error responses. When the application encounters an unexpected condition or invalid request, it returns detailed error messages that include filesystem paths, which are typically only intended for administrative debugging purposes. This type of information exposure provides attackers with precise knowledge of the application's deployment environment, including directory structures and potential entry points for additional attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attack vectors. An attacker who discovers the installation path can use this information to craft targeted attacks against specific components of the application, potentially leading to directory traversal attacks, remote code execution, or privilege escalation attempts. The exposure of the installation path also aids in fingerprinting the target system, enabling attackers to identify the exact version of the application and potentially discover known vulnerabilities associated with that specific release. This vulnerability particularly affects the application's security posture by reducing the attack surface complexity for malicious actors who can now approach the system with more precise targeting knowledge.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation for this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves modifying the application's error handling configuration to suppress detailed filesystem information in error messages, ensuring that all error responses contain generic messages regardless of the underlying system state. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms can prevent direct access to internal php files, while configuring web server error pages to avoid exposing internal application paths. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block direct file access attempts, and establish monitoring protocols to identify unusual access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 "Exploitation for Credential Access" when the exposed path information facilitates subsequent credential theft or privilege escalation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on error handling practices are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases of the application.