CVE-2005-2033 in i-Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in folderview.asp for Blue-Collar Productions i-Gallery 3.3 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files and directories via the folder parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2024
The directory traversal vulnerability identified in CVE-2005-2033 affects the Blue-Collar Productions i-Gallery 3.3 web application, specifically within the folderview.asp component. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to access files and directories beyond the intended scope of the application. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the folder parameter, which is processed without proper authorization checks or path normalization mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate outside the designated gallery directories and access sensitive system files or directories that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate file access requests by including sequences that cause the application to traverse the file system hierarchy beyond its intended boundaries. In the context of i-Gallery 3.3, the folderview.asp script processes user-supplied folder parameters directly without adequate validation, enabling attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially retrieve confidential information, configuration files, or even system-level data that should remain hidden from end users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard web-based attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no special privileges or local system access to exploit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can lead to complete system compromise and data exposure. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to access sensitive files such as database configuration files, application source code, user credentials, or system configuration information that could be used for further attacks. The vulnerability enables attackers to potentially escalate their privileges by accessing system files that contain authentication details or administrative configurations. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK technique T1083, which describes discovering file and directory permissions, and T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering or direct access to system files. The consequences include potential data breaches, system integrity compromise, and unauthorized access to proprietary or confidential information that could be used for malicious purposes or sold on underground markets.
Effective mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization procedures. The application should normalize all user-supplied paths by removing or encoding dangerous sequences such as ../ or ..\ and by implementing strict path validation that ensures all file access operations occur within designated directories. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and privilege separation to limit what files can be accessed through the gallery application. The fix involves modifying the folderview.asp script to validate the folder parameter against a whitelist of allowed directories or to implement proper path normalization techniques that prevent traversal beyond the intended scope. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. System administrators should also monitor for unusual file access patterns and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts. The remediation approach should follow the principle of least privilege, ensuring that the web application operates with minimal necessary permissions and that all file access operations are properly validated and restricted.