CVE-2011-3751 in LifeType
Summary
by MITRE
LifeType 1.2.10 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 plugins/badbehavior/pluginbadbehavior.class.php.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
CVE-2011-3751 represents a sensitive information disclosure vulnerability affecting LifeType version 1.2.10, which falls under the weakness category of CWE-200 - Information Exposure. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information through direct requests to specific php files within the application's directory structure. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize error messages or handle malformed requests, resulting in the exposure of the system's installation path within error responses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a direct request to a php file such as plugins/badbehavior/pluginbadbehavior.class.php, which triggers an error condition within the LifeType application. During this error state, the application's error handling mechanism inadvertently reveals the absolute file path where LifeType is installed on the server. This type of information disclosure provides attackers with critical system reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for further exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information exposure, as it provides attackers with foundational knowledge required for more sophisticated attacks. The disclosed installation path can be used to map the application's directory structure, identify potential weak points in the file system permissions, and facilitate directory traversal attacks or other path-based exploitation techniques. This vulnerability directly relates to the ATT&CK technique T1212 - Exploitation for Credential Access, as the exposed path information can be used to craft more targeted attacks against the application's file system.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability exemplifies poor input validation and error handling practices within web applications. The lack of proper error message sanitization represents a fundamental security flaw that violates the principle of least privilege and information hiding. Organizations running LifeType 1.2.10 should immediately implement mitigations including disabling error display in production environments, implementing proper input validation, and ensuring that error messages do not contain system-specific information. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the issue of information exposure through error messages.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of the LifeType application to version 1.2.11 or later, which contains fixes for the error handling mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should implement proper error handling configurations that prevent sensitive information disclosure in error messages, including the use of custom error pages that do not reveal system paths or internal application details. Regular security audits of web applications should include checks for similar information disclosure vulnerabilities in error handling mechanisms, as this type of flaw remains common in legacy web applications and can provide attackers with crucial reconnaissance data for subsequent exploitation phases.