CVE-2002-1626 in My Calendar
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Mike Spice My Calendar before 1.5 allows remote attackers to write arbitrary files via .. (dot dot) sequences in a URL.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1626 represents a classic directory traversal flaw that affected Mike Spice My Calendar versions prior to 1.5. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of file paths within URL parameters, specifically when dot dot sequences are employed to navigate directory structures. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to manipulate file system access by crafting malicious URLs that contain directory traversal sequences, potentially enabling unauthorized file operations. Such flaws typically emerge when applications fail to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before using it in file system operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the calendar application's file handling routines. When the application processes URLs containing .. sequences, it fails to properly sanitize these path traversal characters, allowing attackers to move up directory levels and access or modify files outside the intended application directory structure. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input is processed without adequate security controls to prevent malicious path manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, potentially enabling complete system compromise through arbitrary file writing capabilities. Attackers could leverage this weakness to upload malicious files, overwrite critical application components, or establish persistent backdoors within the system. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require local system access, making it particularly dangerous for web-based applications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code through file manipulation. The potential for privilege escalation exists when the application runs with elevated permissions, and the vulnerability could facilitate further attacks within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1626 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application code. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Mike Spice My Calendar version 1.5 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper path validation that rejects or removes directory traversal sequences from user input provides an effective defense mechanism. Security controls should include restricting file system permissions for web applications, implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious path traversal attempts, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include disabling unnecessary file operations and implementing proper access controls to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts.