CakePHP Technology Detection Scanner

CakePHP is a popular web application framework used by developers to create robust and scalable web applications. Known for its simplicity, the framework offers tools and conventions that enable the rapid development of web services, with a particular focus on model-view-controller (MVC) architecture. Corporations often employ CakePHP due to its flexibility and extensive community support, which aids in implementing a diverse range of applications. It is widely adopted in environments where quick iterations and prototyping are crucial. Additionally, CakePHP is favored by educational institutions and non-profit organizations for its ease of use and powerful features. Overall, CakePHP serves a varied audience, providing tools for both industry-level projects and small-scale applications.

Users and administrators might inadvertently leave default configuration pages exposed on their servers, which can lead to information disclosure about the software used. The detection of CakePHP's default page indicates an instance of such exposure, revealing that the server uses CakePHP as its framework. This can be exploited by malicious parties to formulate specific attacks targeting PHP-based applications hosted on the identified server. Identifying such pages helps in recommending the resolution of potential security misconfigurations. Ensuring these defaults are hidden or removed is crucial to protect sensitive information about the backend framework.

The scanner identifies the presence of the CakePHP default page by looking for specific keywords in the HTTP response body, such as "Welcome to CakePHP" and "CakePHP Issues." A successful detection occurs when these keywords appear together in the response content, along with a status code of 200, indicating the server has successfully processed the request. The extractor in the template uses regular expressions to obtain version information, reflecting the version of CakePHP in use. Detecting this default page is a clear indicator of a potential oversight in server configuration. Addressing this misconfiguration helps mitigate risks associated with information leakage.

When a CakePHP default page is detected, attackers may gain insights into the structure and version of the application framework, facilitating more targeted attacks. Exploiting this knowledge, attackers could attempt to identify additional weaknesses in the server, such as known vulnerabilities specific to the CakePHP version detected. This information might also enable attackers to mount social engineering attacks against the administrators or developers of the application. Ultimately, the failure to secure these pages can lead to broader security breaches as attackers leverage the disclosed information to compromise server integrity further.