CVE-2011-3754 in Mambo
Summary
by MITRE
Mambo 4.6.5 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 includes/sef.php and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3754 affects Mambo 4.6.5 content management system, representing a classic 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 manifests when attackers can directly access specific php files within the application's directory structure, particularly targeting files such as includes/sef.php and other related components. When these files are accessed directly without proper authentication or input validation, they generate error messages containing the absolute installation path of the Mambo system, thereby providing attackers with critical system information that could facilitate further exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's lack of proper access controls and error message sanitization mechanisms. In Mambo 4.6.5, certain include files are designed to be accessed only through the main application flow, but when accessed directly through URL manipulation, they fail to properly validate the request context. This results in PHP error messages being displayed to the attacker, which inadvertently reveal the complete file system path where the application is installed. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security architecture where the application does not enforce proper access controls or implement adequate error handling that would prevent sensitive information leakage. This type of information disclosure can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1212 as it involves accessing system information through application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with the installation path, which serves as a crucial piece of intelligence for subsequent attack phases. With knowledge of the system's absolute path, attackers can better understand the application's deployment environment and potentially identify other vulnerabilities that might exist due to improper directory permissions or file access configurations. The exposure of installation paths can also aid in fingerprinting the target system, helping attackers determine the specific version of Mambo and potentially other installed software components. This information disclosure vulnerability can be leveraged as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, including directory traversal attempts or exploitation of other vulnerabilities that might be present in the same application stack. The vulnerability also violates security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten 2017, specifically addressing information leakage, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and defense in depth.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3754 should focus on implementing proper access controls and error handling mechanisms within the Mambo application. The primary remediation involves ensuring that all include files are properly protected from direct access through web requests, typically achieved by implementing proper input validation, access control checks, and redirecting unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should also implement comprehensive error handling that prevents sensitive system information from being exposed in error messages, adhering to CWE-117 guidelines for secure error handling. Additionally, implementing proper directory permissions and using .htaccess files or server configurations to restrict direct access to sensitive directories can prevent this vulnerability from being exploited. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications and ensure that error messages do not inadvertently reveal system information that could be valuable to attackers. The vulnerability underscores the importance of implementing proper input validation and access control mechanisms as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and aligns with the security controls recommended in ISO/IEC 27001 for information security management.