CVE-2014-8702 in Wonder
Summary
by MITRE
Wonder CMS 2014 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by logging into the application with an array for the password, which reveals the installation path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-8702 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Wonder CMS 2014 that exposes system internals to remote attackers through improper input validation and error handling mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the category of information exposure and is classified as CWE-209, which specifically addresses error messages containing sensitive information. The flaw occurs when an attacker attempts to authenticate to the CMS using an array as the password parameter, which triggers an unexpected behavior in the application's authentication routine. The system's failure to properly sanitize or validate input data results in the exposure of the installation path through error messages generated during the authentication process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's weak input validation and error handling practices, creating a scenario where malformed input can be processed without proper sanitization. When an array is passed as the password parameter, the CMS fails to handle this unexpected data type gracefully, leading to the generation of error messages that inadvertently reveal the system's file structure and installation directory. This exposure occurs because the application's authentication mechanism does not properly validate the data type of the password parameter, allowing the system to process array inputs and subsequently produce error messages containing sensitive path information. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of improper error handling where the system's response to malformed input directly compromises system security by revealing operational details that should remain confidential.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the revealed installation path provides attackers with critical system information that can be leveraged for subsequent attacks. The exposed path information can be used to identify the application's directory structure, potentially enabling attackers to locate sensitive files, understand the system architecture, or plan more sophisticated attacks targeting specific components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002, which covers data from information repositories, as it provides unauthorized access to system information that could be used for further exploitation. Attackers can use this information to craft more targeted attacks, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data theft, or complete system compromise, especially when combined with other reconnaissance findings.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate input validation issue and the broader error handling practices within the application. The primary remediation involves implementing proper input validation that rejects non-string password values and ensures that all authentication parameters are properly sanitized before processing. Security measures should include validating data types at the input level, implementing generic error messages that do not reveal system internals, and configuring the application to handle unexpected input gracefully without exposing sensitive information. Organizations should also consider implementing proper logging and monitoring to detect unusual authentication attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix should align with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top 10 2021, particularly the A03:2021 - Injection category, which emphasizes the importance of input validation and proper error handling to prevent information disclosure vulnerabilities. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar issues in other application components that might exhibit similar error handling weaknesses.