CVE-2011-3763 in OpenCart
Summary
by MITRE
OpenCart 1.4.9.3 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/startup.php and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3763 affects OpenCart version 1.4.9.3 and represents a sensitive data exposure issue that fundamentally compromises the security posture of the e-commerce platform. This flaw enables remote attackers to directly access specific php files within the application's directory structure, thereby obtaining privileged information that should remain hidden from unauthorized users. The vulnerability manifests when attackers make direct requests to certain php files, particularly system/startup.php and related components, which inadvertently disclose the application's installation path through error messages generated by the system. This type of information disclosure vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor. The disclosure of installation paths creates significant risks for attackers who can then leverage this knowledge to plan more sophisticated attacks against the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the OpenCart framework's file access mechanisms. When users or attackers attempt to access php files directly without proper authentication or authorization checks, the system fails to properly sanitize these requests and instead returns detailed error messages containing the absolute path to the installation directory. This occurs because the application's error handling routines do not adequately filter or mask sensitive path information that would normally be hidden from external users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it provides attackers with precise knowledge of the system's file structure, which can be used to identify potential attack vectors, understand the application's architecture, and plan subsequent exploitation attempts. This flaw directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities to obtain information about the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3763 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the revealed installation paths can serve as a foundation for more advanced attacks. Attackers who obtain this sensitive information can use it to craft targeted attacks against specific file locations, potentially leading to privilege escalation, remote code execution, or data breaches. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for organizations operating e-commerce platforms, as the exposure of installation paths can provide attackers with critical information about the application's deployment environment. Additionally, this information disclosure can be combined with other vulnerabilities to create more effective attack scenarios, as the attacker now has knowledge of the exact file structure and can target specific components more effectively. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security design principles and highlights the importance of proper error handling and input validation in web applications. Organizations should implement comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive files, and should ensure that error messages do not reveal system information that could aid attackers in their reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of regular security audits and the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.