CVE-2011-3762 in OpenBlog
Summary
by MITRE
OpenBlog 1.2.1 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 system/scaffolding/views/view.php and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3762 affects OpenBlog version 1.2.1 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 occurs when attackers can directly access specific php files within the application's directory structure, particularly targeting system/scaffolding/views/view.php and similar files that contain error handling mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's failure to properly sanitize or restrict access to internal system files. When a remote attacker makes a direct request to these php files, the application's error handling mechanism inadvertently reveals the complete installation path of the web application on the server. This occurs because the error messages generated by the application contain full file paths that are typically used for debugging purposes but should never be exposed in production environments. The vulnerability demonstrates a lack of proper input validation and access control mechanisms that would normally prevent unauthorized access to internal application components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with crucial information needed for subsequent exploitation attempts. The disclosed installation path can be used to understand the application's directory structure, potentially revealing other sensitive files or directories that might be accessible through similar means. This information disclosure can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks including directory traversal, local file inclusion, or remote code execution vulnerabilities. The exposure of system paths also provides attackers with knowledge about the server environment, potentially revealing operating system details, PHP version information, or other system characteristics that could be leveraged in targeted attacks.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically relating to T1083 - File and Directory Discovery and T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. The vulnerability enables attackers to gather intelligence about the target system through information gathering techniques that are often the first step in a broader attack campaign. Organizations should implement proper access controls and input validation to prevent direct access to internal application files, ensuring that error messages do not contain sensitive system information. The recommended mitigations include implementing proper file access restrictions, disabling direct access to system files, and configuring the application to suppress detailed error messages in production environments. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack.