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 (69528)
There is a Remote DoS vulnerability in Huawei Smartphone.Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can affect service integrity. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A certificate validation vulnerability in PCM600 Update Manager allows attacker to get unwanted software packages to be installed on computer which has PCM600 installed. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.7), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An issue was discovered on the Grandstream HT801 Analog Telephone Adaptor before 1.0.29.8. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Roblox-Purchasing-Hub is an open source Roblox product purchasing hub. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
In BIND 9.3.0 -> 9.11.35, 9.12.0 -> 9.16.21, and versions 9.9.3-S1 -> 9.11.35-S1 and 9.16.8-S1 -> 9.16.21-S1 of BIND Supported Preview Edition, as well as release versions 9.17.0 -> 9.17.18 of the. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
A vulnerability in Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to overwrite or append arbitrary data to system files using root-level privileges. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.0), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Multiple vulnerabilities in the CLI of Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Multiple vulnerabilities in the CLI of Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
IBM i2 iBase 8.9.13 and 9.0.0 could allow a local attacker to obtain sensitive information due to insufficient session expiration. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
IBM Jazz Team Server products stores user credentials in clear text which can be read by an authenticated user. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
IBM Jazz Team Server products could allow an authenticated user to obtain elevated privileges under certain configurations. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable.
IBM Planning Analytics 2.0 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. This Incorrect Permission Assignment vulnerability could allow attackers to access resources due to misconfigured permissions.
The Hub in CFEngine Enterprise 3.6.7 through 3.18.0 has Insecure Permissions that allow local Information Disclosure. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
CFEngine Enterprise 3.15.0 through 3.15.4 has Missing SSL Certificate Validation. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
In Gradle Enterprise through 2021.3, probing of the server-side network environment can occur via an SMTP configuration test. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In mymbCONNECT24, mbCONNECT24 <= 2.9.0 an unauthenticated user can enumerate valid backend users by checking what kind of response the server sends for crafted invalid login attempts. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
There is a use-after-free (UAF) vulnerability in Huawei products. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
The Secure flag is not set in the SSL Cookie of Kiwi Syslog Server 9.7.2 and previous versions. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
The ASP.NET debug feature is enabled by default in Kiwi Syslog Server 9.7.2 and previous versions. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
The HTTP TRACK & TRACE methods were enabled in Kiwi Syslog Server 9.7.1 and earlier. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
FreeSWITCH is a Software Defined Telecom Stack enabling the digital transformation from proprietary telecom switches to a software implementation that runs on any commodity hardware. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
OpenClinic GA 5.194.18 is affected by Insecure Permissions. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
An Improper input validation in execDefaultBrowser method of NEXACRO17 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary command on affected systems. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
An issue was discovered in Nagios XI 5.8.5. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
A crafted request may cause a read access to an uninitialized pointer in CODESYS V2 Runtime Toolkit 32 Bit full and PLCWinNT prior to versions V2.4.7.56, resulting in a denial-of-service condition. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In CODESYS V2 Runtime Toolkit 32 Bit full and PLCWinNT prior to versions V2.4.7.56 unauthenticated crafted invalid requests may result in several denial-of-service conditions. 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.
Nextcloud is an open-source, self-hosted productivity platform. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Nextcloud is an open-source, self-hosted productivity platform. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Nextcloud is an open-source, self-hosted productivity platform. 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.
Nextcloud is an open-source, self-hosted productivity platform. 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.
Nextcloud is an open-source, self-hosted productivity platform The Nextcloud Mail application prior to versions 1.10.4 and 1.11.0 does by default not render images in emails to not leak the read. Rated low severity (CVSS 3.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
In bpf_skb_change_head of filter.c, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a use after free. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.7), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In set_default_passthru_cfg of passthru.c, 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 memzero_explicit of compiler-clang.h, there is a possible bypass of defense in depth due to uninitialized data. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In wifi driver, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In wifi driver, there is a possible system crash due to a missing bounds check. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In ape extractor, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a heap buffer overflow. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In ape extractor, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a heap buffer overflow. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In ape extractor, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a heap buffer overflow. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In flv extractor, 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. No vendor patch available.
In asf extractor, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an incorrect bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In asf extractor, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an incorrect bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In flv extractor, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a heap buffer overflow. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In flv extractor, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In flv extractor, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In flv extractor, 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. No vendor patch available.
In flv extractor, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an incorrect bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In flv extractor, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an incorrect bounds check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Exposure of senstive information to an unauthorised actor in the "com.onepeloton.erlich" mobile application up to and including version 1.7.22 allows a remote attacker to access developer files. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
The affected product is vulnerable to a unsanitized extract folder for system configuration. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
The affected product is vulnerable to a disclosure of peer username and password by allowing all users access to read global variables. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. This Exposure of Sensitive Information vulnerability could allow attackers to access sensitive data that should not be disclosed.
The affected product is vulnerable to improper input validation in the restore file. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
The Harmony Browse and the SandBlast Agent for Browsers installers must have admin privileges to execute some steps during the installation. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
In RevertActiveSessions of apexd.cpp, there is a possible way to share the wrong file due to an unintentional MediaStore downgrade. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
In getAllSubInfoList of SubscriptionController.java, there is a possible way to retrieve a long term identifier without the correct permissions due to a missing permission check. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
There are multiple API function codes that permit reading and writing data to or from files and directories, which could lead to the manipulation and/or the deletion of files. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
The database connection to the server is performed by calling a specific API, which could allow an unprivileged user to gain SYSDBA permissions. 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.
Many of the services used by the affected product do not specify full paths for the DLLs they are loading. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity.
A specific function code receives a raw pointer supplied by the user and deallocates this pointer. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. This Use After Free vulnerability could allow attackers to access freed memory to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.
The affected product uses a hard-coded blowfish key for encryption/decryption processes. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
The data of a network capture of the initial handshake phase can be used to authenticate at a SYSDBA level. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
The affected product’s OS Service does not verify any given parameter. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity.
Some API functions allow interaction with the registry, which includes reading values as well as data modification. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
The affected product’s proprietary protocol CSC allows for calling numerous function codes. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. This Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability could allow attackers to read data from memory outside the intended buffer boundaries.
Some API functions permit by-design writing or copying data into a given buffer. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Releases prior to VMware vRealize Operations Tenant App 8.6 contain an Information Disclosure Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Each authenticated Orion Platform user in a MSP (Managed Service Provider) environment can view and browse all NetPath Services from all that MSP's customers. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.4), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
IBM Standards Processing Engine (IBM Transformation Extender Advanced 9.0 and 10.0) 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.
On systems running Arista EOS and CloudEOS with the affected release version, when using shared secret profiles the password configured for use by BiDirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) will be. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with administrative read-only privileges to download files. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Affected versions of Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center allow anonymous remote attackers to the query component JQL endpoint via a Broken Access Control vulnerability (BAC) vulnerability. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Affected versions of Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center allow remote attackers to modify various resources via a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability, following an Information. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
The Cosmos-SDK is a framework for building blockchain applications in Golang. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
ZTE MF971R product has a configuration file control vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
This affects all versions of package x-assign. 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.
Camaleon CMS 0.1.7 to 2.6.0 doesn’t terminate the active session of the users, even after the admin changes the user’s password. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Essbase Administration Services product of Oracle Essbase (component: EAS Console). Rated critical severity (CVSS 10.0), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the MySQL Cluster product of Oracle MySQL (component: Cluster: General). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.3). No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Java VM component of Oracle Database Server. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Oracle WebLogic Server product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Coherence Container). Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the Zero Downtime DB Migration to Cloud component of Oracle Database Server. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.2), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.
Vulnerability in the MySQL Cluster product of Oracle MySQL (component: Cluster: General). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.3).
Vulnerability in the MySQL Cluster product of Oracle MySQL (component: Cluster: General). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.3).
Vulnerability in the MySQL Cluster product of Oracle MySQL (component: Cluster: General). Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.3).
Vulnerability in the Java SE product of Oracle Java SE (component: Deployment). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required.
Vulnerability in the Oracle VM VirtualBox product of Oracle Virtualization (component: Core). Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Vulnerability in the Enterprise Manager Base Platform product of Oracle Enterprise Manager (component: Policy Framework). Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Improper authentication of sub-frames of a multicast AMSDU frame can lead to information disclosure in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Compute, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Consumer IOT,. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity.
Possible buffer over read due to improper buffer allocation for file length passed from user space in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), 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.
Possible out of bound access due to lack of validation of page offset before page is inserted in Snapdragon Auto, Snapdragon Connectivity, Snapdragon Industrial IOT, Snapdragon Mobile. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack complexity.