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 (69501)
In hasGrantedPolicy of DevicePolicyManagerService.java, there is a possible information disclosure about the device owner, profile owner, or device admin due to a logic error in the code. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Missing Authorization vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources or perform actions without proper authorization checks.
In createAdminSupportIntent of DevicePolicyManagerService.java, there is a possible disclosure of information about installed device/profile owner package name due to side channel information. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.3), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In getOrganizationNameForUser of DevicePolicyManagerService.java, there is a possible organization name disclosure due to a missing permission check. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.3), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Missing Authorization vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources or perform actions without proper authorization checks.
In isRequestPinItemSupported of ShortcutService.java, there is a possible cross-user leak of packages in which the default launcher supports requests to create pinned shortcuts due to a permissions. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Incorrect Default Permissions vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources due to overly permissive default settings.
In getSerialForPackage of DeviceIdentifiersPolicyService.java, there is a possible way to determine whether an app is installed, without query permissions, due to side channel information disclosure. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.3), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. This Missing Authorization vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources or perform actions without proper authorization checks.
In toBARK of floor0.c, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability could allow attackers to read data from memory outside the intended buffer boundaries.
In isFileUri of UriUtil.java, there is a possible way to bypass ignoring file://URI attachment due to improper handling of case sensitivity. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.0), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
In MPEG4Source::read of MPEG4Extractor.cpp, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability could allow attackers to write data beyond allocated buffer boundaries leading to code execution or crashes.
In vorbis_book_decodev_set of codebook.c, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability could allow attackers to write data beyond allocated buffer boundaries leading to code execution or crashes.
In code generated by BuildParcelFields of generate_cpp.cpp, there is a possible way for a crafted parcelable to reveal uninitialized memory of a target process due to uninitialized data. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
In C2SoftMP3::process() of C2SoftMp3Dec.cpp, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a heap buffer overflow. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In quota_proc_write of xt_quota2.c, there is a possible way to read kernel memory due to uninitialized data. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.4), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In update of km_compat.cpp, there is a possible loss of potentially sensitive data due to a logic error in the code. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.4), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In doCropPhoto of PhotoSelectionHandler.java, there is a possible permission bypass due to a confused deputy. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.0), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In getAlias of BluetoothDevice.java, there is a possible way to create misleading permission dialogs due to missing data filtering. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In rw_t4t_sm_detect_ndef of rw_t4t.cc, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an incorrect bounds check. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In xhci_vendor_get_ops of xhci.c, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In createNoCredentialsPermissionNotification and related functions of AccountManagerService.java, there is a possible way to retrieve accounts from the device without permissions due to a permissions. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In enqueueNotification of NetworkPolicyManagerService.java, there is a possible way to retrieve a trackable identifier due to a missing permission check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In WT_InterpolateNoLoop of eas_wtengine.c, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an incorrect bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm exists in AnonAddy 0.8.5 via VerificationController.php. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
yetiforcecrm is vulnerable to Business Logic Errors. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
In StackStorm versions prior to 3.6.0, the jinja interpreter was not run in sandbox mode and thus allows execution of unsafe system commands. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
Visual Studio Code Spoofing Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Microsoft PowerShell Spoofing Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Windows Encrypting File System (EFS) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. This Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources from an unintended security context.
Microsoft BizTalk ESB Toolkit Spoofing Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
We have investigated reports of a spoofing vulnerability in AppX installer that affects Microsoft Windows. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. Public exploit code available.
Microsoft Defender for IoT Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows Mobile Device Management Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
ASP.NET Core and Visual Studio Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Microsoft Office Trust Center Spoofing Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Windows Digital Media Receiver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows Digital TV Tuner Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows Kernel Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
VP9 Video Extensions Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Microsoft SharePoint Server Spoofing Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
NTFS Set Short Name Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows Recovery Environment Agent Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows Remote Access Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows Setup Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.3), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Microsoft Message Queuing Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Storage Spaces Controller Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows NTFS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows NTFS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows NTFS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Storage Spaces Controller Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), 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.
Windows Common Log File System Driver Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows Remote Access Connection Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Microsoft Message Queuing Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Microsoft Local Security Authority (LSA) Server Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. This Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources from an unintended security context.
Windows Common Log File System Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Microsoft Defender for IoT Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Visual Basic for Applications Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Microsoft Jet Red Database Engine and Access Connectivity Engine Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Windows Print Spooler Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Windows Media Center Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
yetiforcecrm is vulnerable to Business Logic Errors. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
The absence of notifications regarding an ongoing RF jamming attack in the SecuritasHome home alarm system, version HPGW-G 0.0.2.23F BG_U-ITR-F1-BD_BL.A30.20181117, allows an attacker to block. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An RF replay attack vulnerability in the SecuritasHome home alarm system, version HPGW-G 0.0.2.23F BG_U-ITR-F1-BD_BL.A30.20181117, allows an attacker to trigger arbitrary system functionality by. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Crocoblock JetEngine before 2.9.1 does not properly validate and sanitize form data. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
discourse-footnote is a library providing footnotes for posts in Discourse. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Opencast is an Open Source Lecture Capture & Video Management for Education. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
The Spotfire Server component of TIBCO Software Inc.'s TIBCO Spotfire Server, TIBCO Spotfire Server, and TIBCO Spotfire Server contains a difficult to exploit vulnerability that allows malicious. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability was discovered in the Keybase Client for Windows before version 5.6.0 when a user executed the "keybase git lfs-config" command on the command-line. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
UiPath Assistant 21.4.4 will load and execute attacker controlled data from the file path supplied to the --dev-widget argument of the URI handler for uipath-assistant://. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Unisys Cargo Mobile Application before 1.2.29 uses cleartext to store sensitive information, which might be revealed in a backup. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Apache Sling Commons Messaging Mail provides a simple layer on top of JavaMail/Jakarta Mail for OSGi to send mails via SMTPS. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
SAP Business One - version 10.0, allows an admin user to view DB password in plain text over the network, which should otherwise be encrypted. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable.
A security vulnerability has been discovered in the SAP Knowledge Warehouse - versions 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, 7.50. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An issue was discovered in Listary through 6. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required. No vendor patch available.
An issue was discovered in Listary through 6. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.3), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Sysaid API User Enumeration - Attacker sending requests to specific api path without any authorization before 21.3.60 version could get users names from the LDAP server. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
glFusion CMS v1.7.9 is affected by an arbitrary user impersonation vulnerability in /public_html/comment.php. 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.
A vulnerability has been identified in SiPass integrated V2.76 (All versions), SiPass integrated V2.80 (All versions), SiPass integrated V2.85 (All versions), Siveillance Identity V1.5 (All. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in SiPass integrated V2.76 (All versions), SiPass integrated V2.80 (All versions), SiPass integrated V2.85 (All versions), Siveillance Identity V1.5 (All. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in SiPass integrated V2.76 (All versions), SiPass integrated V2.80 (All versions), SiPass integrated V2.85 (All versions), Siveillance Identity V1.5 (All. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT Utilities (All versions < V12.8.1.1), JTTK (All versions < V10.8.1.1). 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 JT Utilities (All versions < V13.0.3.0), JTTK (All versions < V11.0.3.0). Rated low severity (CVSS 3.3), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT Utilities (All versions < V13.0.3.0), JTTK (All versions < V11.0.3.0). 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 JT Utilities (All versions < V13.1.1.0), JTTK (All versions < V11.1.1.0). Rated low severity (CVSS 3.3), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT Utilities (All versions < V13.1.1.0), JTTK (All versions < V11.1.1.0). 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 JT Utilities (All versions < V13.1.1.0), JTTK (All versions < V11.1.1.0). Rated low severity (CVSS 3.3), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT Utilities (All versions < V13.1.1.0), JTTK (All versions < V11.1.1.0). Rated low severity (CVSS 3.3), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT2Go (All versions < V13.2.0.5), Teamcenter Visualization (All versions < V13.2.0.5). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability could allow attackers to read data from memory outside the intended buffer boundaries.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT2Go (All versions < V13.2.0.5), Teamcenter Visualization (All versions < V13.2.0.5). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability could allow attackers to read data from memory outside the intended buffer boundaries.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT Open (All versions < V11.1.1.0), JT Utilities (All versions < V13.1.1.0), Solid Edge (All versions < V2023). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Use After Free vulnerability could allow attackers to access freed memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.
A vulnerability has been identified in JT2Go (All versions < V13.2.0.5), Teamcenter Visualization (All versions < V13.2.0.5). Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability could allow attackers to read data from memory outside the intended buffer boundaries.