CVE-2005-1073 in RadBids Gold
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in index.php for RadScripts RadBids Gold 2 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via the read parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1073 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the RadScripts RadBids Gold 2 web application. This security weakness resides in the index.php script where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input passed through the read parameter. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate file access requests and potentially retrieve sensitive files from the server's file system. Such vulnerabilities typically arise when applications directly incorporate user-supplied data into file operations without adequate input validation or access control mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. In this case, the read parameter in index.php serves as the attack vector where an attacker can supply malicious input containing sequences like ../ or ..\ that allow navigation outside the intended directory structure. When the application processes this input without proper sanitization, it can execute unintended file operations that expose system files, configuration data, or other sensitive information to unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially enable attackers to access database configuration files, application source code, user credentials, or system configuration details. This exposure creates opportunities for further exploitation including privilege escalation, system compromise, or data theft. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications handling sensitive data. Organizations using RadBids Gold 2 would face significant risk of unauthorized data access and potential system infiltration through this pathway.
Security mitigations for CVE-2005-1073 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization techniques. The most effective approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects or filters out directory traversal sequences such as ..\ or ../ from user input before processing. Additionally, applications should employ secure coding practices including the use of allowlists for acceptable file paths, implementing proper access controls, and utilizing secure file handling functions that prevent path manipulation. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms as additional defensive layers. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding guidelines and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in web applications. This type of vulnerability frequently appears in legacy applications and underscores the need for comprehensive security updates and patches to address known weaknesses in older software versions.