CVE-2011-3820 in WSN Software
Summary
by MITRE
WSN Software 6.0.6 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/prestart.php and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3820 affects WSN Software version 6.0.6 and represents a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system details to remote attackers. This vulnerability stems from improper error handling within the software's web application framework, specifically when processing direct requests to php files. The flaw allows malicious actors to obtain the absolute installation path of the web application through error messages generated during file processing. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it provides attackers with precise directory structure information that can be leveraged for subsequent exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's failure to sanitize error messages properly when processing requests to specific php files such as includes/prestart.php and other related components. When an attacker makes a direct request to these files, the application generates error messages that inadvertently reveal the complete file system path where the software is installed. This occurs due to inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms within the web application's codebase. The error messages typically contain stack traces or path information that exposes the underlying directory structure, which is considered sensitive information in security contexts.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly increases the attack surface for potential adversaries who can now obtain crucial system information without requiring authentication or prior access. The disclosed installation path provides attackers with detailed knowledge about the server's file structure, which can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks including directory traversal, local file inclusion, or other path-based exploitation techniques. This information disclosure vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which specifically addresses the improper handling of error conditions that reveal sensitive information. The exposure of system paths can facilitate further reconnaissance activities and may enable attackers to bypass security controls that rely on obfuscation of system locations.
The vulnerability's exploitability is relatively straightforward, requiring only basic web request capabilities to trigger the information disclosure. Attackers can leverage automated tools or simple curl commands to make direct requests to vulnerable php files and capture the error messages containing the installation paths. This ease of exploitation makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be discovered and exploited by threat actors with minimal technical expertise. The impact extends beyond just path disclosure, as the revealed information can be used in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to craft more effective attack vectors against the target system. Organizations using WSN Software 6.0.6 should immediately implement mitigations to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system information.
Recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include implementing proper error handling mechanisms that do not expose system paths or file locations in error messages. The software should be updated to version 6.0.7 or later, which contains patches addressing this specific information disclosure issue. Additionally, administrators should implement web application firewalls that can detect and block direct requests to sensitive php files, and configure the application to log all access attempts to these files for monitoring purposes. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting direct access to php files and implementing proper input validation to prevent malformed requests from triggering error conditions. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure error handling practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 which covers data exploitation through error message manipulation.