+/--------\------- ALPER Research Labs -----/--------/+
+/---------\------ Security Advisory ----/---------/+
+/----------\----- ID: ARL02-A05 ---/----------/+
+/-----------\---- salper@olympos.org --/-----------/+
Advisory Information
--------------------
Name : PHP FirstPost System Information
Path Disclosure Vulnerability
Software Package : PHP First Post
Vendor Homepage :
http://sourceforge.net/projects/phpfirstpost/
Vulnerable Versions: v0.1
Platforms : PHP Dependent
Vulnerability Type : Input Validation Error
Vendor Contacted : 11/03/2002
Vendor Replied :12/03/2002
Prior Problems : N/A
Current Version : v0.1 (vulnerable)
Summary
-------
PHP FirstPost is yet another PHP weblog. This one,
however, is based on Scoop, and has the open
submission
queue and comment rating system.
A vulnerability exists in PHP FirstPost, which could
allow any remote user to view the full path to the web
root.
Details
-------
If a remote user submits a maliciously crafted HTTP
request
this will enable a remote user to reveal the absolute
path to the web root and also more information about
the system might be revealed.
This issue may be exploited by requesting an invalid
post number, independent of the article number.
Example:
http://PHPFirstPost_site/article.php?
article=4965&post=NO_SUCH_NUMBER
Where NO_SUCH_NUMBER is a non-existing post
reply number.
This would return the article (if it exists) and below it
the web root path in an error message;
"Warning: Unable to jump to row 0 on MySQL result
index 11
in /home/httpd/examplesite/html/article.php on line
737"
Solution
--------
The vendor verified the vulnerability in PHP FirstPost.
And added
that the project was "on hold" for a while but they said
that they are
planning to release a new version with new features
and the fix for the
issue in the not-too-distant future.
I suggest the following as a workaround:
Put an IF ELSE statement in the article.php, like;
if ($requested_post_number == "") {
die ("Post number not found!");
}
else {
// the original script functions
}
Credits
-------
Discovered on 11, March, 2002 by Ahmet Sabri
ALPER
salper@olympos.org
Ahmet Sabri ALPER
Olympos Turkish Security Portal:
http://www.olympos.org
References
----------
Product Web Page:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/phpfirstpost/
