CVE-2011-3809 in TheHostingTool
Summary
by MITRE
TheHostingTool (THT) 1.2.3 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 includes/pear/Mail/smtp.php and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3809 affects TheHostingTool version 1.2.3, a web-based hosting management platform that provides administrators with tools to manage various aspects of hosting services. This issue represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that occurs when the application fails to properly handle error conditions, leading to the exposure of sensitive system information through error messages generated during file processing. The flaw specifically manifests when remote attackers can directly request certain php files within the application's directory structure, causing the system to display installation paths in error messages that should remain hidden from external parties.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the application's insufficient error handling procedures within its php file processing logic. When the system encounters an error while attempting to access or process specific files such as includes/pear/Mail/smtp.php, it generates an error message that inadvertently includes the full server path where the application is installed. This occurs because the error handling code does not sanitize or filter the error output before presenting it to the requesting user, allowing attackers to extract directory structures and potentially sensitive information about the server environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple files within the application's include directories, suggesting a systemic issue in how error conditions are managed across the codebase rather than isolated to a single file.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the revealed installation paths can provide attackers with critical information for subsequent exploitation attempts. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains knowledge of the application's directory structure, which can be used to craft more sophisticated attacks targeting specific files or directories within the hosting environment. The exposure of system paths can also aid in identifying the server's operating system, web server configuration, and potentially other applications running on the same system. This information disclosure vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which classifies the weakness as "Information Exposure" and represents a fundamental security flaw where sensitive information is unintentionally revealed to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers "File and Directory Discovery" as attackers can use such information to better understand the target environment before launching more targeted attacks.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through simple web requests to specific php files within the application's directory structure. Attackers can systematically test various paths within the includes directory to identify which files trigger the error messages containing the installation paths. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security hygiene in application error handling and highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and error message sanitization. Organizations using TheHostingTool version 1.2.3 should immediately implement mitigations including disabling direct access to sensitive php files, implementing proper error handling that does not expose system paths, and ensuring that all error messages are filtered to remove potentially sensitive information. The vulnerability also underscores the need for regular security assessments of web applications to identify and remediate similar information disclosure issues that could provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance data for more complex attack vectors.