CVE-2004-0237 in PHP Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in index.php in Aprox PHP Portal allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a full pathname in the show parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0237 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Aprox PHP Portal application's index.php component. This security weakness enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the target system by manipulating the show parameter with a full pathname. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's file inclusion process, allowing malicious users to bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive information from the server's file system. The affected Aprox PHP Portal application fails to properly validate user-supplied input before using it in file operations, creating an exploitable condition that can lead to unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this directory traversal vulnerability occurs when the application processes the show parameter without adequate sanitization of the input data. Attackers can construct malicious paths that traverse up the directory structure using sequences like "../" or similar path manipulation techniques to access files outside the intended directory boundaries. This flaw 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 allows for arbitrary file reading capabilities that can potentially expose configuration files, database credentials, source code, and other sensitive data stored on the server. The attack vector operates entirely through HTTP requests, making it accessible to remote threat actors without requiring local system access or authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to gain insights into the application's architecture, underlying system configuration, and potentially escalate their privileges. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive files such as database connection strings, administrative configuration settings, or even source code that may contain additional vulnerabilities. The implications for system security are severe, as this flaw can serve as a foothold for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or further system compromise. Organizations running affected versions of Aprox PHP Portal face significant risk of unauthorized access to their web applications and underlying infrastructure, particularly when the application is hosted on servers with sensitive data or administrative access rights.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0237 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's file handling processes. The most effective approach involves removing or properly encoding user-supplied input before using it in file operations, ensuring that all paths are validated against a whitelist of acceptable values or properly normalized to prevent directory traversal attempts. Organizations should implement proper access controls and file permission settings to limit the exposure of sensitive files, while also applying the latest security patches and updates from the software vendor. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious path traversal attempts, conducting regular security audits of web applications, and establishing proper monitoring procedures to detect unusual file access patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege when designing web applications to minimize the attack surface and prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.