CVE-2024-54366 in Vimeography Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2024
Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information vulnerability in Dave Kiss Vimeography allows Retrieve Embedded Sensitive Data.This issue affects Vimeography: from n/a through 2.4.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-54366 represents a critical security flaw in the Dave Kiss Vimeography plugin that exposes sensitive information through improperly formatted error messages. This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure, specifically where error handling mechanisms fail to sanitize output before displaying system details to end users. The issue exists within the plugin's error message generation system, which inadvertently includes sensitive data elements that should remain concealed from unauthorized access. Such exposure can occur during normal operational procedures when the plugin encounters processing errors or validation failures, leading to the accidental revelation of internal system information that could aid malicious actors in understanding the underlying architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling practices within the Vimeography plugin codebase. When the plugin processes media content or handles user requests, it fails to properly filter or sanitize error messages that contain system paths, database information, user identifiers, or other sensitive metadata. This flaw typically manifests when the plugin encounters malformed data, permission issues, or configuration errors during media processing operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer where error messages are generated and displayed, making it accessible through standard user interactions with the plugin's functionality. According to CWE standards, this maps to CWE-209 which specifically addresses "Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information" and represents a common weakness in web application security where error handling mechanisms expose confidential data.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-54366 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed sensitive data can significantly aid attackers in planning more sophisticated attacks against the affected system. When error messages contain embedded system information, database credentials, file paths, or user identifiers, attackers can leverage this intelligence to conduct targeted exploitation attempts including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or further system compromise. The vulnerability affects all versions of Vimeography from the initial release through version 2.4.4, indicating a long-standing issue that has not been adequately addressed. This exposure creates opportunities for attackers to map the system architecture and identify potential attack vectors, making the affected installations more vulnerable to cascading security breaches. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the plugin is used for content management or media processing, as these systems often handle sensitive user data and business-critical information.
Organizations utilizing the affected Vimeography plugin should prioritize immediate remediation through the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing proper error handling mechanisms that sanitize all error messages before display, ensuring that no sensitive information is exposed to end users. This includes removing system paths, database information, user identifiers, and other confidential data from error outputs. Security teams should also implement logging mechanisms to monitor for potential exploitation attempts and establish network-level controls to detect unusual error message patterns that might indicate active exploitation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques related to reconnaissance and credential access, where adversaries collect information about the target system to facilitate further attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include proper input validation, secure error handling, and comprehensive security testing to prevent such information disclosure issues from compromising system integrity.