CVE-2011-3756 in MicroBlog
Summary
by MITRE
MicroBlog 0.9.5 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 init.php and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3756 affects MicroBlog version 0.9.5 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-200 (Information Exposure) and CWE-497 (Exposure of Sensitive System Information). The flaw manifests when attackers can directly access php files within the application, specifically mentioning init.php and other related files, which then return error messages containing the absolute installation path of the web application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's lack of proper input validation and error handling mechanisms. When a malicious user makes a direct request to vulnerable php files, the application fails to sanitize the request properly and instead generates error messages that inadvertently disclose the complete file system path where MicroBlog is installed. This type of information disclosure provides attackers with crucial reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for further exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices, as the application should never reveal internal system paths through error messages to external parties.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations deploying MicroBlog 0.9.5 as it provides attackers with the exact location of the web application installation, which can be used to craft more targeted attacks. The disclosed installation path can facilitate directory traversal attacks, help attackers identify the specific web server configuration, and potentially reveal other system information that could be used in conjunction with other vulnerabilities. This exposure of system paths aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) as it provides attackers with foundational information needed for deeper system exploration. The vulnerability also represents a failure in the application's security posture and could lead to cascading effects if attackers use the disclosed information to discover additional weaknesses in the system architecture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper error handling and input validation throughout the application code. Organizations should ensure that error messages do not contain sensitive system information and that all file access is properly authenticated and authorized. The recommended approach includes implementing a centralized error handling mechanism that logs errors internally while presenting generic error messages to users, configuring the web server to prevent direct access to sensitive php files, and applying the latest security patches provided by the application vendor. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and input sanitization can prevent unauthorized access to internal application files, thereby eliminating the attack vector that enables this information disclosure. Security monitoring should also be enhanced to detect and alert on unusual access patterns to php files that might indicate exploitation attempts.