CVE-2004-0071 in PHP Man Page Lookup
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in buildManPage in class.manpagelookup.php for PHP Man Page Lookup 1.2.0 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via the command parameter ($cmd variable) to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0071 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the PHP Man Page Lookup 1.2.0 application, specifically within the buildManPage function located in class.manpagelookup.php. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected system. The flaw manifests when the command parameter, referenced as the $cmd variable in index.php, is manipulated to include directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ that bypass normal file access restrictions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate or sanitize the command parameter before processing it within the buildManPage function. When a malicious user submits a crafted command parameter containing directory traversal sequences, the application processes these inputs without adequate filtering, allowing the attacker to navigate beyond the intended directory structure and access files that should remain restricted. This represents a classic path traversal vulnerability that falls under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as directory traversal or path traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the ability to read arbitrary files from the target system. This could include sensitive configuration files, database credentials, application source code, or other confidential data that may be stored in accessible directories. The remote nature of the attack means that an attacker does not require local system access or credentials to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into the application's architecture, identify other potential vulnerabilities, or extract sensitive information that could facilitate further exploitation.
The vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and reconnaissance activities. The ability to read arbitrary files constitutes a form of information gathering that attackers can use to plan more sophisticated attacks. From a security perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application development. The flaw represents a failure in the application's defense-in-depth strategy, as proper parameter validation should have prevented the malicious traversal attempts from being processed. Organizations should implement robust input sanitization mechanisms, including the use of allowlists for acceptable command parameters, proper file access controls, and regular security testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their web applications.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization techniques. Developers should ensure that all user-supplied parameters are validated against a strict whitelist of acceptable values, and that directory traversal sequences are explicitly rejected. Additionally, the application should operate with minimal privileges, limiting the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application or in related systems. The implementation of proper access controls and the principle of least privilege should be enforced to minimize the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts, ensuring that even if such vulnerabilities exist, the damage they can cause is significantly reduced.