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 (69260)
Prototype pollution vulnerability in function convertLater in npm-convert.js in stealjs steal 2.2.4 via the requestedVersion variable in npm-convert.js. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Misinterpretation of Input in GitHub repository ionicabizau/parse-url prior to 8.1.0. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
An issue was discovered in Nokia FastMile 5G Receiver 5G14-B 1.2104.00.0281. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Uncontrolled Recursion in GitHub repository gpac/gpac prior to 2.1.0-DEV. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
An issue was discovered in Bento4 through 1.6.0-639. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
An issue was discovered in Bento4 1.6.0-639. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Cosign is a project under the sigstore organization which aims to make signatures invisible infrastructure. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
GLPI stands for Gestionnaire Libre de Parc Informatique and is a Free Asset and IT Management Software package, that provides ITIL Service Desk features, licenses tracking and software auditing. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Exposure of Sensitive Information vulnerability could allow attackers to access sensitive data that should not be disclosed.
Improper Input Validation vulnerability exists in the Hitachi Energy MicroSCADA X SYS600's ICCP stack during the ICCP communication establishment causes a denial-of-service when ICCP of SYS600 is. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Improper Input Validation vulnerability in the handling of a specially crafted IEC 61850 packet with a valid data item but with incorrect data type in the IEC 61850 OPC Server in the Hitachi Energy. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Improper Input Validation vulnerability in the handling of a malformed IEC 104 TCP packet in the Hitachi Energy MicroSCADA X SYS600, MicroSCADA Pro SYS600. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An improper link resolution vulnerability in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent on Windows devices allows a local attacker to read files on the system with elevated privileges when generating a. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A remote, unauthenticated attacker can enumerate valid users by sending specific requests to the webservice of MB connect line mymbCONNECT24, mbCONNECT24 and Helmholz myREX24 and myREX24.virtual in. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
libexpat before 2.4.9 has a use-after-free in the doContent function in xmlparse.c. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. This Use After Free vulnerability could allow attackers to access freed memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.
An issue was discovered in Keyfactor PrimeKey EJBCA before 7.9.0, related to possible inconsistencies in DNS identifiers submitted in an ACME order and the corresponding CSR submitted during. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
The mobile application in Transtek Mojodat FAM (Fixed Asset Management) 2.4.6 allows remote attackers to fetch other users' data upon a successful login request. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
The mobile application in Transtek Mojodat FAM (Fixed Asset Management) 2.4.6 allows remote attackers to fetch cleartext passwords upon a successful login request. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
The component "cuppa/api/index.php" of CuppaCMS v1.0 is Vulnerable to LFI. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Insufficient access control vulnerability was discovered in the Crestron AirMedia Windows Application, version 4.3.1.39, in which a user can pause the uninstallation of an executable to gain a SYSTEM. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An arbitrary file download vulnerability in the downloadAction() function of Penta Security Systems Inc WAPPLES v6.0 r3 4.10-hotfix1 allows attackers to download arbitrary files via a crafted POST. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
The WAVLINK Quantum D4G (WN531G3) running firmware version M31G3.V5030.200325 uses IP addresses to hold sessions and does not not use session tokens. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Because the WAVLINK Quantum D4G (WN531G3) running firmware version M31G3.V5030.200325 and earlier communicates over HTTP and not HTTPS, and because the hashing mechanism does not rely on a. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
In NOKIA 1350 OMS R14.2, an Insertion of Sensitive Information into an Application Log File vulnerability occurs. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In NOKIA 1350 OMS R14.2, Insufficiently Protected Credentials (cleartext administrator password) occur in the edit configuration page. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, and VIOS 3.1 could allow a non-privileged local user to exploit a vulnerability in the invscout command to obtain root privileges. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
IBM AIX 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, and VIOS 3.1 could allow a non-privileged local user to exploit a vulnerability in the AIX kernel to obtain root privileges. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, 11.1, and 11.5 is vulnerable to an information disclosure in some scenarios due to unauthorized access caused by improper privilege management. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
IBM Control Desk 7.6.1 could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information, caused by the failure to set the HTTPOnly flag. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
IBM Control Desk 7.6.1 does not set the secure attribute on authorization tokens or session cookies. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Under certain conditions an attacker authenticated as a CMS administrator access the BOE Commentary database and retrieve (non-personal) system data, modify system data but can't make the system. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.2), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In the SEPolicy configuration of system apps, there is a possible access to the 'ip' utility due to an insecure default value. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Incorrect Permission Assignment vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources due to misconfigured permissions.
In extract3GPPGlobalDescriptions of TextDescriptions.cpp, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an integer overflow. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Summary:Product: AndroidVersions: Android SoCAndroid ID: A-238257000. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Summary:Product: AndroidVersions: Android SoCAndroid ID: A-238257002. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Summary:Product: AndroidVersions: Android SoCAndroid ID: A-238257004. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Summary:Product: AndroidVersions: Android SoCAndroid ID: A-238227323. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Summary:Product: AndroidVersions: Android SoCAndroid ID: A-238227324. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Summary:Product: AndroidVersions: Android SoCAndroid ID: A-238227328. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
a function called 'nla_parse', do not check the len of para, it will check nla_type (which can be controlled by userspace) with 'maxtype' (in this case, it is GSCAN_MAX), then it access polciy array. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Improper Control of Dynamically-Managed Code Resources vulnerability in Crafter Studio of Crafter CMS allows authenticated developers to execute OS commands via FreeMarker SSTI. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Onedev is an open source, self-hosted Git Server with CI/CD and Kanban. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Visual Studio Code Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.3), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Azure Guest Configuration and Azure Arc-enabled servers Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows Graphics Component Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows Print Spooler Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows Group Policy Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
DirectX Graphics Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows Graphics Component Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows Remote Access Connection Manager Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for Mac Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows Common Log File System Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows GDI Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows Graphics Component Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows ALPC Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.0). No vendor patch available.
Windows DPAPI (Data Protection Application Programming Interface) Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows Distributed File System (DFS) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was discovered in the Crestron AirMedia Windows Application, version 4.3.1.39, in which a low-privileged user can gain a SYSTEM level command prompt by pre-staging a file structure. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows Kerberos Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Windows Kerberos Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
Windows Credential Roaming Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.3), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Windows Photo Import API Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.0). No vendor patch available.
TYPO3 is an open source PHP based web content management system released under the GNU GPL. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Weak Password Requirements in GitHub repository ikus060/rdiffweb prior to 2.4.2. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Talos Linux is a Linux distribution built for Kubernetes deployments. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. This Incorrect Permission Assignment vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources due to misconfigured permissions.
An out-of-bounds access issue was found in the Linux kernel sound subsystem. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability could allow attackers to read data from memory outside the intended buffer boundaries.
Under certain conditions SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform Central Management Console (CMC) - version 430, allows an attacker to access certain unencrypted sensitive parameters which. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An attacker with basic business user privileges could craft and upload a malicious file to SAP NetWeaver Application Server ABAP, which is then downloaded and viewed by other users resulting in a. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In SAP Business One application when a service is created, the executable path contains spaces and isn’t enclosed within quotes, leading to a vulnerability known as Unquoted Service Path which allows. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Multiple binary application files on the CMS8000 device are compiled with 'not stripped' and 'debug_info' compilation settings. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.4), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Pal Electronics Systems - Pal Gate Authorization Errors. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.6), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A potential security vulnerability has been identified in HP ThinPro 7.2 Service Pack 8 (SP8). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An incorrect handling of the supplementary groups in the Buildah container engine might lead to the sensitive information disclosure or possible data modification if an attacker has direct access to. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
An incorrect handling of the supplementary groups in the Podman container engine might lead to the sensitive information disclosure or possible data modification if an attacker has direct access to. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A flaw was found in WildFly, where an attacker can see deployment names, endpoints, and any other data the trace payload may contain. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Missing Custom Error Page in GitHub repository ikus060/rdiffweb prior to 2.4.2. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Sensitive Cookie in HTTPS Session Without 'Secure' Attribute in GitHub repository ikus060/rdiffweb prior to 2.4.2. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Parasolid V33.1 (All versions < V33.1.262), Parasolid V33.1 (All versions >= V33.1.262 < V33.1.263), Parasolid V34.0 (All versions < V34.0.252), Parasolid V34.1. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Parasolid V33.1 (All versions < V33.1.262), Parasolid V33.1 (All versions >= V33.1.262 < V33.1.263), Parasolid V34.0 (All versions < V34.0.252), Parasolid V34.1. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Parasolid V33.1 (All versions < V33.1.262), Parasolid V33.1 (All versions >= V33.1.262 < V33.1.263), Parasolid V34.0 (All versions < V34.0.252), Parasolid V34.1. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Parasolid V33.1 (All versions < V33.1.262), Parasolid V33.1 (All versions >= V33.1.262 < V33.1.263), Parasolid V34.0 (All versions < V34.0.252), Parasolid V34.1. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Parasolid V33.1 (All versions < V33.1.262), Parasolid V33.1 (All versions >= V33.1.262 < V33.1.263), Parasolid V34.0 (All versions < V34.0.252), Parasolid V34.1. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Parasolid V33.1 (All versions < V33.1.262), Parasolid V34.0 (All versions < V34.0.252), Parasolid V34.1 (All versions < V34.1.242), Parasolid V35.0 (All. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in Parasolid V33.1 (All versions < V33.1.262), Parasolid V34.0 (All versions < V34.0.252), Parasolid V34.1 (All versions < V34.1.242), Parasolid V35.0 (All. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An issue in the Elasticsearch plugin of Appsmith v1.7.11 allows attackers to connect disallowed hosts to the AWS/GCP internal metadata endpoint. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
FreshService Windows Agent < 2.11.0 and FreshService macOS Agent < 4.2.0 and FreshService Linux Agent < 3.3.0. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
FreshService macOS Agent < 4.4.0 and FreshServce Linux Agent < 3.4.0 are vulnerable to TLS Man-in-The-Middle via the FreshAgent client and scheduled update service. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Dendrite is a Matrix homeserver written in Go. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.