CVE-2004-2717 in phpMyChat
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in admin.php3 in PHPMyChat 0.14.5 allow remote attackers with administrative privileges to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the (1) sheet and (2) What parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2717 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in PHPMyChat version 0.14.5 that specifically targets the admin.php3 script. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw manifests when administrative users process requests containing directory traversal sequences using the .. (dot dot) notation within the sheet and What parameters of the admin.php3 interface. The vulnerability requires an attacker to already possess administrative privileges, which significantly reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the insecure handling of user-supplied input parameters within the PHPMyChat administrative interface. When the application processes the sheet and What parameters without proper sanitization or validation, it allows attackers to manipulate file paths by injecting directory traversal sequences. This enables unauthorized access to arbitrary files on the server filesystem, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data, database credentials, or other confidential information that should remain restricted to authorized administrative users. The vulnerability specifically affects the admin.php3 script which serves as the administrative control panel for PHPMyChat, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to access critical system files that may contain sensitive data or configuration parameters. An attacker with administrative access could potentially read database connection strings, user credentials, or other system configuration files that could be used for further exploitation. The vulnerability also enables potential privilege escalation within the application itself, as attackers might be able to manipulate the application's behavior by accessing or modifying administrative files. This represents a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of the entire PHPMyChat installation, potentially compromising the underlying database server and associated systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to a patched version of PHPMyChat that properly validates and sanitizes all user input parameters. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization techniques that prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed by the application. Additionally, administrators should ensure that the principle of least privilege is enforced by limiting administrative access to only necessary personnel and implementing proper access controls. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting, as attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to systems. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious directory traversal patterns and monitor for anomalous file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.