CVE-2017-17776 in Paid To Read Script
Summary
by MITRE
Paid To Read Script 2.0.5 has full path disclosure via an invalid admin/userview.php uid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17776 affects the Paid To Read Script version 2.0.5, a web-based content management system designed for monetizing content through reader payments. This particular flaw manifests as a full path disclosure issue that occurs when the application processes an invalid uid parameter within the admin/userview.php endpoint. The vulnerability represents a significant security weakness that can expose sensitive server path information to unauthorized users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the script's administrative interface. When an attacker submits an invalid uid parameter to the admin/userview.php file, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before processing it. This results in the application displaying the full server path along with the error message, effectively revealing critical system information including the absolute file paths where the application is installed and configured. The flaw operates under the principle of insufficient input sanitization, which allows malicious actors to extract sensitive operational data that could aid in subsequent attack vectors.
From an operational impact perspective, this full path disclosure vulnerability creates multiple security risks for affected systems. The exposed server paths can reveal the exact installation directory structure, which provides attackers with valuable information about the server environment and application architecture. This information can be leveraged to craft more sophisticated attacks targeting specific system configurations or to bypass security measures that rely on obscurity. The vulnerability also violates security best practices by inadvertently providing attackers with system-level information that should remain confidential, potentially enabling privilege escalation attempts or other advanced persistent threats.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message" and falls under the broader category of information disclosure vulnerabilities. This classification indicates that the flaw directly exposes system information through error handling mechanisms rather than through intentional data leakage. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the information gathering phase, where adversaries collect system information to plan further attacks. The exposure of full paths can facilitate subsequent exploitation attempts by providing knowledge of the application's file structure and potentially revealing the underlying operating system or web server configuration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and error handling procedures throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly parameters used in administrative functions, and implementing generic error messages that do not reveal system-specific information. Organizations should also ensure that error handling routines are configured to log detailed error information internally while presenting minimal information to end users. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms for administrative endpoints will help prevent unauthorized access to the vulnerable userview.php script. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses throughout the application codebase, ensuring that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other components of the system.