CVE-2018-6010 in Yii Framework
Summary
by MITRE
In Yii Framework 2.x before 2.0.14, remote attackers could obtain potentially sensitive information from exception messages printed by the error handler in non-debug mode, related to base/ErrorHandler.php, log/Dispatcher.php, and views/errorHandler/exception.php.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6010 affects the Yii Framework 2.x versions prior to 2.0.14 and represents a sensitive information exposure issue that occurs within the framework's error handling mechanisms. This flaw allows remote attackers to extract potentially sensitive data through exception messages that are displayed even when the application operates in non-debug mode, which is a critical security concern for web applications that must maintain confidentiality of internal system information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides within the framework's core error handling components including base/ErrorHandler.php, log/Dispatcher.php, and views/errorHandler/exception.php files. When exceptions occur during application execution, the error handler is responsible for formatting and displaying error messages to users. In non-debug mode, the framework should typically suppress detailed technical information that could aid attackers in understanding the application's internal structure, but this vulnerability allows sensitive data to leak through the exception message formatting process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used to craft more sophisticated attacks. The leaked information may include file paths, stack traces, database connection details, or other internal application structures that can significantly aid in identifying potential attack vectors and understanding the application's architecture. This information leakage violates fundamental security principles and can enable attackers to perform more targeted exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-209, which specifically addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211, "Exploitation for Defense Evasion," as the information disclosure can be leveraged to bypass security controls. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and error handling practices that violate the principle of least privilege and information hiding. Organizations using affected versions of Yii Framework should prioritize immediate patching to address this vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation that could lead to more severe security incidents.
The remediation strategy involves upgrading to Yii Framework version 2.0.14 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly sanitize exception messages and prevent sensitive information leakage. Security teams should also implement comprehensive monitoring for any unusual error message patterns and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their application stack. Additionally, organizations should review their error handling configurations to ensure that debugging information is properly suppressed in production environments.