Information Disclosure
Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.
How It Works
Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security. This happens through multiple channels: verbose error messages that display stack traces revealing internal paths and frameworks, improperly secured debug endpoints left active in production, and misconfigured servers that expose directory listings or version control artifacts like .git folders. APIs often leak excessive data in responses—returning full user objects when only a name is needed, or revealing system internals through metadata fields.
Attackers exploit these exposures systematically. They probe for common sensitive files (.env, config.php, backup archives), trigger error conditions to extract framework details, and analyze response timing or content differences to enumerate valid usernames or resources. Even subtle variations—like "invalid password" versus "user not found"—enable account enumeration. Exposed configuration files frequently contain database credentials, API keys, or internal service URLs that unlock further attack vectors.
The attack flow typically starts with passive reconnaissance: examining HTTP headers, JavaScript bundles, and public endpoints for version information and architecture clues. Active probing follows—testing predictable paths, manipulating parameters to trigger exceptions, and comparing responses across similar requests to identify information leakage patterns.
Impact
- Credential compromise: Exposed configuration files, hardcoded secrets in source code, or API keys enable direct authentication bypass
- Attack surface mapping: Stack traces, framework versions, and internal paths help attackers craft targeted exploits for known vulnerabilities
- Data breach: Direct exposure of user data, payment information, or proprietary business logic through oversharing APIs or accessible backups
- Privilege escalation pathway: Internal URLs, service discovery information, and architecture details facilitate lateral movement and SSRF attacks
- Compliance violations: GDPR, PCI-DSS, and HIPAA penalties for exposing regulated data through preventable disclosures
Real-World Examples
A major Git repository exposure affected thousands of websites when .git folders remained accessible on production servers, allowing attackers to reconstruct entire source code histories including deleted commits containing credentials. Tools like GitDumper automated mass exploitation of this misconfiguration.
Cloud storage misconfigurations have repeatedly exposed sensitive data when companies left S3 buckets or Azure Blob containers publicly readable. One incident exposed 150 million voter records because verbose API error messages revealed the storage URL structure, and no authentication was required.
Framework debug modes left enabled in production have caused numerous breaches. Django's DEBUG=True setting exposed complete stack traces with database queries and environment variables, while Laravel's debug pages revealed encryption keys through the APP_KEY variable in environment dumps.
Mitigation
- Generic error pages: Return uniform error messages to users; log detailed exceptions server-side only
- Disable debug modes: Enforce production configurations that suppress stack traces, verbose logging, and debug endpoints through deployment automation
- Access control audits: Restrict or remove development artifacts (
.git, backup files,phpinfo()) and internal endpoints before deployment - Response minimization: API responses should return only necessary fields; implement allowlists rather than blocklists for data exposure
- Security headers: Deploy
X-Content-Type-Options, remove server version banners, and disable directory indexing - Timing consistency: Ensure authentication and validation responses take uniform time regardless of input validity
Recent CVEs (68895)
In imgsys, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing valid range checking. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.2), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In imgsys_cmdq, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing valid range checking. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.2), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In imgsys_cmdq, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing valid range checking. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.2), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In imgsys, there is a possible out of bounds read and write due to a missing valid range checking. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In imgsys, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing valid range checking. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.2), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In imgsys, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a race condition. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.0). No vendor patch available.
In camsys, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.4), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In keyinstall, there is a possible information disclosure due to a missing bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.4), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In cta, there is a possible information disclosure due to a missing permission check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In duraspeed, there is a possible information disclosure due to a missing permission check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In duraspeed, there is a possible information disclosure due to a missing permission check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In cmdq, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an incorrect status check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.4), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In ims service, there is a possible missing permission check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In ims service, there is a possible missing permission check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In vowifi service, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In vowifiservice, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In vowifiservice, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In vowifiservice, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In vowifiservice, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In vowifiservice, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In vowifiservice, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In vowifiservice, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In vowifiservice, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In vowifiservice, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In vowifiservice, there is a possible missing permission check.This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In LTE protocol stack, there is a possible missing permission check. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In NIA0 algorithm in Security Mode Command, there is a possible missing verification incorrect input. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in SourceCodester Inventory Management System 1.0. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was found in Dreamer CMS up to 4.1.3. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Incorrect certificate validation in InvokeHTTP on Apache NiFi MiNiFi C++ versions 0.13 to 0.14 allows an intermediary to present a forged certificate during TLS handshake negotation. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
Proscend Advice ICR Series routers FW version 1.76 - CWE-1392: Use of Default Credentials. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
ForeScout NAC SecureConnector version 11.2 - CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Synel Terminals - CWE-494: Download of Code Without Integrity Check. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Untrusted Search Path in GitHub repository vim/vim prior to 9.0.1833. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
A vulnerability that poses a potential risk of polluting the MXsecurity sqlite database and the nsm-web UI has been identified in MXsecurity versions prior to v1.0.1. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
A vulnerability has been identified in MXsecurity versions prior to v1.0.1. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required.
In Ubuntu's accountsservice an unprivileged local attacker can trigger a use-after-free vulnerability in accountsservice by sending a D-Bus message to the accounts-daemon process. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was found in PlayTube 3.0.1 and classified as problematic. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
In a typical Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) there are several components, such as boot loader, virtual device drivers, virtio backend drivers and vhost drivers, that need to access the VM physical. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.7), this vulnerability is no authentication required. This Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability could allow attackers to read data from memory outside the intended buffer boundaries.
O-RAN Software Community ric-plt-lib-rmr v4.9.0 does not validate the source of the routing tables it receives, potentially allowing attackers to send forged routing tables to the device. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Out-of-bounds Read in GitHub repository gpac/gpac prior to 2.3-DEV. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Floating Point Comparison with Incorrect Operator in GitHub repository gpac/gpac prior to 2.3-DEV. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
The broker in Eclipse Mosquitto 1.3.2 through 2.x before 2.0.16 has a memory leak that can be abused remotely when a client sends many QoS 2 messages with duplicate message IDs, and fails to respond. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
An authorization/sensitive information disclosure vulnerability was identified in GitHub Enterprise Server that allowed a fork to retain read access to an upstream repository after its visibility was. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions starting from 11.8 before 16.1.5, all versions starting from 16.2 before 16.2.5, all versions starting from 16.3 before 16.3.1. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An issue has been discovered in GitLab affecting all versions starting from 16.2 before 16.2.5, all versions starting from 16.3 before 16.3.1. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Certain Lexmark devices (such as CS310) before 2023-08-25 allow XXE attacks, leading to information disclosure. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An information disclosure issue in GitLab EE affecting all versions from 16.2 prior to 16.2.5, and 16.3 prior to 16.3.1 allowed other Group Owners to see the Public Key for a Google Cloud Logging. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An issue has been discovered in GitLab affecting all versions starting from 15.2 before 16.1.5, all versions starting from 16.2 before 16.2.5, all versions starting from 16.3 before 16.3.1. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
External Control of System or Configuration Setting in GitHub repository instantsoft/icms2 prior to 2.16.1-git. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.9), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Improper Input Validation in GitHub repository usememos/memos prior to 0.13.2. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Use of Predictable Algorithm in Random Number Generator in GitHub repository pkp/pkp-lib prior to 3.3.0-16. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), released under the Apache license. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), released under the Apache license. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), released under the Apache license. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), released under the Apache license. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), released under the Apache license. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Sensitive information leak through log files. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Sensitive information disclosure due to improper token expiration validation. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Sensitive information disclosure due to missing authorization. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Sensitive information disclosure due to excessive collection of system information. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), released under the Apache license. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), released under the Apache license. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), released under the Apache license. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Remote command execution due to improper input validation. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Sensitive information disclosure due to unauthenticated path traversal. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Remote command execution due to improper input validation. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Sensitive information disclosure due to excessive collection of system information. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Divide By Zero in GitHub repository gpac/gpac prior to 2.3-DEV. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Inappropriate file type control in Zscaler Proxy versions 3.6.1.25 and prior allows local attackers to bypass file download/upload restrictions. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Insecure Inherited Permissions vulnerability in Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories SEL-5033 AcSELerator RTAC Software on Windows allows Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An Incomplete Filtering of Special Elements vulnerability in the Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories SEL-5030 acSELerator QuickSet Software could allow an attacker to embed instructions that could be. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere vulnerability in the Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories SEL-5030 acSELerator QuickSet Software could allow an attacker to embed. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An Improper Handling of Unicode Encoding vulnerability in the Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories SEL-5030 acSELerator QuickSet Software could allow an attacker to embed instructions that could be. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere vulnerability in the Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories SEL-5030 acSELerator QuickSet Software could allow an attacker to embed. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Excessive attack surface due to binding to an unrestricted IP address. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
IBM Security Verify Information Queue 10.0.4 and 10.0.5 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information that could aid in further attacks against the system. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
IBM Security Verify Information Queue 10.0.4 and 10.0.5 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information that could aid in further attacks against the system. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
IBM Security Verify Information Queue 10.0.4 and 10.0.5 stores sensitive information in plain clear text which can be read by a local user. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.3), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor vulnerability in cgi component in Synology Router Manager (SRM) before 1.3.1-9346-6 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability in File Functionality in Synology Router Manager (SRM) before 1.3.1-9346-6 allows remote authenticated users to conduct denial-of-service attacks via. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
A malicious actor that has been granted Guest Operation Privileges https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/vsphere-security/GUID-6A952214-0E5E-4CCF-9D2A-90948FF643EC.html in a target virtual. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required.
The Metform Elementor Contact Form Builder for WordPress is vulnerable to Information Disclosure via the 'mf_first_name' shortcode in versions up to, and including, 3.3.1. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Sensitive Cookie in HTTPS Session Without 'Secure' Attribute in GitHub repository instantsoft/icms2 prior to 2.16.1. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Session Fixation in GitHub repository instantsoft/icms2 prior to 2.16.1. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Brocade SANnav before v2.3.0 and v2.2.2a stores SNMPv3 Authentication passwords in plaintext. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Possible information exposure through log file vulnerability where sensitive fields are recorded in the configuration log without masking on Brocade SANnav before v2.3.0 and 2.2.2a. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
The firmwaredownload command on Brocade Fabric OS v9.2.0 could log the FTP/SFTP/SCP server password in clear text in the SupportSave file when performing a downgrade from Fabric OS v9.2.0 to any. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An incorrect comparison vulnerability was identified in GitHub Enterprise Server that allowed commit smuggling by displaying an incorrect diff in a re-opened Pull Request. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Graylog is a free and open log management platform. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. Public exploit code available.