CVE-2012-5915 in Seditio
Summary
by MITRE
Neocrome Seditio build 161 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via direct request to (1) view.php, (2) plugins/contact/lang/contact.en.lang.php, (3) system/lang/en/main.lang.php, (4) system/lang/en/message.lang.php, or (5) system/core/view/view.inc.php, which reveals the installation path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5915 affects Neocrome Seditio versions 161 and earlier, presenting a critical information disclosure risk that exposes sensitive system details to remote attackers. This flaw exists within the web application's error handling mechanisms, where direct requests to specific PHP files trigger error messages containing the absolute installation path of the vulnerable system. The affected files include core application components such as view.php, language configuration files, and system view includes, all of which can be accessed without proper authentication or authorization. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure, where attackers can gather intelligence about the target system's structure and deployment environment, which serves as a foundational step for more sophisticated attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling within the application's codebase, specifically in how the system processes direct requests to sensitive files. When an attacker makes a direct request to any of the specified files, the application fails to properly sanitize or suppress error messages that contain the absolute file path where the application is installed. This occurs because the system does not implement proper input validation or error suppression mechanisms that would prevent sensitive path information from being exposed to unauthorized users. The vulnerability represents a clear violation of secure coding practices, as it demonstrates the application's failure to implement proper error management that would protect system internals from disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for subsequent attacks. The exposed installation paths enable attackers to understand the application's directory structure, which can be used to craft more targeted attacks against specific components or to identify potential secondary vulnerabilities within the system. This information disclosure can facilitate path traversal attacks, directory listing exploits, or other techniques that rely on knowledge of the application's file structure. From an attacker's perspective, having access to the installation path significantly reduces the time and effort required to conduct successful exploitation attempts, as they no longer need to perform extensive reconnaissance to determine the system's layout.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) classification system, where it aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure" and encompasses vulnerabilities that lead to the disclosure of sensitive information. Additionally, this weakness can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques under the reconnaissance phase, particularly T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1069 (Permission Groups Discovery), as attackers can use the exposed paths to better understand the target environment. The vulnerability also demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege, as the application unnecessarily exposes system-level information to any remote user who can make direct HTTP requests to the affected components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5915 should focus on implementing proper error handling mechanisms that prevent sensitive information disclosure. Organizations should ensure that all error messages are properly sanitized and that no system paths or internal details are exposed to end users or external parties. The recommended approach includes implementing centralized error handling that logs errors internally while displaying generic messages to users, configuring the web server to suppress detailed error information, and ensuring that direct access to system files is properly restricted through proper authentication and authorization controls. Additionally, regular security code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while implementing proper input validation to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the Neocrome Seditio platform that addresses this specific information disclosure flaw and implements comprehensive error handling practices that align with security best practices.