CVE-2012-4674 in PluXml
Summary
by MITRE
PluXml before 5.1.6 allows remote attackers to obtain the installation path via the PHPSESSID.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4674 affects PluXml versions prior to 5.1.6 and represents a sensitive information disclosure flaw that exposes the application's installation path to remote attackers. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities, which can provide adversaries with critical system details that may facilitate further exploitation attempts. The flaw specifically manifests when the PHPSESSID cookie is present in the application's response, inadvertently revealing the physical installation path of the PluXml application on the server filesystem.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability stems from improper error handling or configuration within the PluXml application's session management system. When PHP generates session identifiers, these are typically stored in cookies and transmitted between client and server. In affected versions, the application's response headers or error messages contain the installation path information, which is then accessible through the PHPSESSID cookie value. This occurs due to insufficient sanitization of session-related data or improper handling of session parameters that should not expose system-specific information to external parties. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which deals with information exposure, and represents a specific instance of information disclosure through session management flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the installation path exposure provides attackers with crucial system mapping information. This information can be leveraged to craft more targeted attacks against the specific server configuration, potentially enabling directory traversal attacks, path-based exploitation techniques, or other advanced persistent threats. The exposure of the installation path may also reveal the underlying operating system, web server configuration, and potentially other system components that could be exploited. From an attacker's perspective, this information serves as a foundation for reconnaissance activities and can significantly reduce the time and effort required for subsequent exploitation phases, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1083 for discovering system information and T1068 for exploit private vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4674 involve updating to PluXml version 5.1.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to prevent the exposure of installation paths through session identifiers. System administrators should also implement proper session management configurations, including ensuring that session cookies are properly secured with appropriate flags such as HttpOnly and Secure, and that error messages do not contain system-specific information. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments and implement proper input validation to prevent similar information disclosure issues in other applications, while also monitoring for unauthorized access attempts that may indicate exploitation of this and related vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper configuration management in preventing information disclosure attacks that can compromise system security.