CVE-2011-5144 in Open Business Management
Summary
by MITRE
Open Business Management (OBM) 2.4.0-rc13 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain configuration information via a direct request to test.php, which calls the phpinfo function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5144 affects Open Business Management version 2.4.0-rc13 and earlier implementations, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes sensitive system configuration details to remote attackers. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of direct requests to the test.php script, which inadvertently executes the phpinfo function without proper authentication or access controls. The exposure occurs when an attacker can directly access this endpoint and receive comprehensive information about the server's php configuration, installed extensions, environment variables, and potentially other sensitive system details that could aid in subsequent attack phases.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the OBM application's web interface. When the test.php file is accessed directly, it executes the phpinfo function which outputs detailed information about the PHP environment including server configuration, loaded modules, security settings, and potentially database connection details. This represents a classic case of improper access control where sensitive diagnostic functions are exposed to unauthenticated users. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and CWE-352, which covers cross-site request forgery, as the lack of proper authentication mechanisms allows unauthorized access to sensitive information. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability provides attackers with crucial reconnaissance data that could be leveraged to identify potential attack vectors, understand the underlying system architecture, and plan more sophisticated exploitation techniques.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed phpinfo output can reveal critical system details that significantly aid in advanced attack scenarios. Attackers can obtain information about database connection strings, file paths, server configurations, and PHP module versions that may contain known vulnerabilities. This exposure creates a foundation for further exploitation attempts including potential privilege escalation, SQL injection attacks, or other vulnerabilities that may exist in the system components. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security practices in application design where diagnostic functions should never be accessible to unauthenticated users. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) as it provides attackers with information needed to identify potential system weaknesses and plan subsequent exploitation activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-5144 should focus on immediate access control implementation and comprehensive security hardening of the affected application. Organizations should ensure that the test.php file is either removed from production environments or properly secured with authentication mechanisms that require administrative credentials before access. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input validation, access control checks, and removing or disabling diagnostic scripts from public-facing interfaces. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security reviews of all application endpoints to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that no other diagnostic or testing functions are exposed without proper authorization controls. Security hardening measures should include disabling phpinfo functionality in production environments, implementing proper authentication for all administrative functions, and regularly auditing application configurations to prevent similar exposure issues. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to prevent information disclosure attacks that can significantly compromise system security.