CVE-2005-0933 in phpCOIN
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in auxpage.php for phpCOIN 1.2.1b and earlier allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via the page parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0933 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in the auxiliary page handling component of phpCOIN version 1.2.1b and earlier. This security weakness resides within the auxpage.php script which processes user input through the page parameter without adequate sanitization or validation. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate file access paths and potentially retrieve sensitive system files that should remain protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability stems from improper input handling where user-supplied data directly influences file system operations, creating an avenue for malicious actors to bypass normal access controls and escalate their privileges within the application environment.
This directory traversal vulnerability maps to CWE-22 which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw operates by allowing attackers to manipulate the page parameter to include directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ that navigate upward through the file system hierarchy. When the application processes these malicious inputs without proper validation, it attempts to open files at locations specified by the attacker, potentially exposing configuration files, database credentials, source code, or other sensitive data that resides on the server. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed remotely without requiring authentication or prior access to the system, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more severe attacks within the compromised system. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw could gain access to database connection strings, administrative credentials, or other sensitive configuration data stored in files accessible through the web application. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for further exploitation including potential code execution if the application has write permissions to critical directories, or privilege escalation if the web server process has elevated system permissions. Additionally, the exposure of source code through directory traversal attacks can reveal implementation details that aid in developing more sophisticated attacks against the application or underlying infrastructure.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application code. The most effective approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects any input containing directory traversal sequences or other malicious path characters before processing user requests. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and privilege separation to ensure that the web application cannot access sensitive system files even if an attacker manages to bypass input validation. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by configuring the web server and application to operate with minimal required permissions, preventing access to system-critical files even if path traversal attacks succeed. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection against such attacks while monitoring for suspicious access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. These defensive measures align with ATT&CK technique T1083 which focuses on discovering system information through directory and file listing activities, helping organizations detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts.