CVE-2018-6880 in EmpireCMS
Summary
by MITRE
EmpireCMS 6.6 through 7.2 allows remote attackers to discover the full path via an array value for a parameter to class/connect.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2021
EmpireCMS versions 6.6 through 7.2 contain a critical information disclosure vulnerability that exposes the full server path to remote attackers through improper input validation in the class/connect.php file. This vulnerability stems from the application's failure to sanitize array parameters passed to the connect.php script, allowing malicious actors to extract sensitive system path information that could be used for subsequent exploitation attempts. The flaw represents a classic path disclosure issue that violates fundamental security principles of information hiding and defense in depth.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when EmpireCMS processes array parameters without adequate sanitization or validation, causing the application to echo or log array values that contain system path information. Attackers can craft malicious requests with array parameters that trigger the application to reveal the complete file system path through error messages or direct output. This behavior directly maps to CWE-209, which addresses the disclosure of error information that could expose system paths, and CWE-470, which covers the use of insecure functions that can lead to information disclosure. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices that allow attackers to manipulate application behavior and extract sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed path information provides attackers with critical reconnaissance data for planning more sophisticated attacks. Once the full path is known, attackers can leverage this information to craft targeted attacks against specific file locations, identify system configurations, or bypass security controls that rely on path obfuscation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers the discovery of system information through path enumeration, and T1059, which involves the use of system commands that could be facilitated by knowledge of file locations. The exposure of system paths can enable attackers to identify potential attack vectors, locate sensitive configuration files, or exploit other vulnerabilities that may exist in the application's codebase.
Organizations running affected EmpireCMS versions should immediately implement mitigations including input validation for all parameters passed to connect.php, disabling unnecessary error reporting that reveals system paths, and applying the latest security patches provided by the vendor. The recommended approach involves implementing proper parameter sanitization that prevents array inputs from being processed directly, enforcing strict input validation that rejects malformed parameters, and configuring the application to suppress detailed error messages in production environments. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the exposure of the affected application to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect and alert on suspicious parameter patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.