CVE-2002-1966 in My Postcards Platinum
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in magiccard.cgi in My Postcards Platinum 5.0 and 6.0 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the page parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1966 represents a classic directory traversal flaw in the magiccard.cgi script component of My Postcards Platinum versions 5.0 and 6.0. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category known as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')", which is a fundamental security weakness that has persisted across numerous software systems since the early days of web development. The vulnerability specifically affects web applications that process user input without proper validation or sanitization, creating opportunities for malicious actors to access files outside of intended directories.
The technical mechanism of this vulnerability exploits the lack of input validation in the page parameter of the magiccard.cgi script. When an attacker submits a request containing directory traversal sequences such as "../" in the page parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate this input before using it to construct file paths. This allows the attacker to navigate up the directory structure and access files that should normally be protected from external access, potentially including system configuration files, database files, or other sensitive data that resides on the server. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited with minimal technical knowledge and can provide attackers with unauthorized access to critical system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to potentially gain deeper access to the affected system. Attackers can use this vulnerability to read sensitive files such as password databases, configuration files containing database credentials, or even system files that could provide additional attack vectors. The vulnerability affects a specific web application component that likely serves dynamic content, meaning that successful exploitation could allow attackers to access not just static files but potentially execute arbitrary code if the application is configured to process certain file types. This represents a significant risk to web application security and can lead to complete system compromise if combined with other vulnerabilities or if the application has write permissions to critical directories.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 technique for "File and Directory Discovery", where adversaries systematically explore file systems to identify valuable targets. The vulnerability also relates to T1566 which covers "Phishing with Malicious Attachment" and T1505 which addresses "Server Software Component" compromises, as attackers may use this vulnerability to gain access to system resources that could be leveraged for further attacks. Organizations running affected versions of My Postcards Platinum should immediately implement input validation measures, including proper sanitization of user input and implementation of strict path validation mechanisms. The most effective mitigations include implementing proper access controls, restricting file access permissions, and ensuring that all user-supplied input is properly validated and sanitized before being used in file system operations. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack.