CVE-2011-3817 in Website Baker
Summary
by MITRE
Website Baker 2.8.1 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 admin/media/parameters.php and certain other files. NOTE: this might overlap CVE-2005-2436.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3817 affects Website Baker version 2.8.1 and represents a sensitive data exposure issue that enables remote attackers to obtain privileged information through direct requests to specific php files. This flaw manifests when the application fails to properly handle error conditions, resulting in the disclosure of the installation path within error messages generated by the system. The vulnerability specifically impacts files such as admin/media/parameters.php and similar components within the application's directory structure, making it particularly concerning for systems where the installation path contains sensitive information about the server environment or organizational structure. The disclosure of installation paths can provide attackers with critical information for subsequent exploitation attempts, including potential file system locations and directory structures that may be leveraged for further reconnaissance.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes the improper handling of sensitive information exposure, and represents a classic case of information disclosure through error messages that reveal system-level details to unauthorized users. The flaw operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor input validation and error handling practices that are commonly exploited in web application attacks. The vulnerability's classification as a sensitive data exposure issue places it within the broader context of information disclosure vulnerabilities that are frequently targeted by threat actors seeking to gather intelligence about target systems. The potential for this vulnerability to overlap with CVE-2005-2436 indicates that similar patterns of information disclosure may exist across different versions or implementations of the same software family, suggesting a systemic weakness in the application's security design.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3817 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the revealed installation paths can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can use this information to craft targeted attacks against specific file locations, potentially leading to privilege escalation, unauthorized file access, or further exploitation of other vulnerabilities present in the system. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. The disclosure of installation paths can also reveal organizational structures and system configurations that may be valuable for social engineering attacks or for planning more comprehensive breach strategies. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability can be exploited as part of a reconnaissance phase, where attackers systematically gather information about the target environment before launching more direct attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3817 should focus on implementing proper error handling and input validation mechanisms within the application code. Organizations should ensure that error messages do not contain sensitive system information such as installation paths, file locations, or directory structures. The implementation of generic error pages that do not reveal internal system details represents the primary defense mechanism against this type of information disclosure. Additionally, the application should be configured to log detailed error information internally while presenting sanitized messages to end users. Security hardening practices should include regular code reviews to identify potential error handling vulnerabilities, implementation of proper access controls for administrative files, and ensuring that sensitive files are not directly accessible through web requests. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1212, which covers exploitation for credential access, underscores the importance of addressing information disclosure vulnerabilities as part of comprehensive security strategies. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block direct requests to sensitive files, and maintain up-to-date security patches for the Website Baker application to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system that may provide attackers with similar information disclosure opportunities.