CVE-2005-3281 in NukeFixes
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in NukeFixes 3.1 for PHP-Nuke 7.8 allows remote attackers to include arbitrary files via the file parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2018
The directory traversal vulnerability identified in CVE-2005-3281 affects NukeFixes 3.1 version for PHP-Nuke 7.8 systems, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary file inclusion attacks. This vulnerability resides within the file parameter handling mechanism of the NukeFixes module, which fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before processing file operations. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation that allows malicious actors to manipulate the file parameter to access files outside the intended directory structure, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, known as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')", which is a fundamental weakness in input validation that has been consistently identified as one of the most dangerous web application security flaws. The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper path validation in the PHP-Nuke framework's file inclusion mechanisms, allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that bypass normal access controls. When an attacker supplies a crafted file parameter containing directory traversal sequences such as "../", the application processes these sequences without proper sanitization, enabling access to files that should remain protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on the affected server. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to include malicious files from external locations or access sensitive system files such as configuration files, database credentials, or other confidential data stored on the server. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. This type of vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell," as attackers can potentially use the file inclusion capability to execute malicious scripts or commands on the compromised system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of input validation and sanitization measures that properly filter or reject directory traversal sequences in all user-supplied parameters. System administrators should apply the vendor-provided patches or updates for NukeFixes 3.1 that address this specific vulnerability, while also implementing proper access controls and file permission settings to limit the impact of any successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious directory traversal patterns in HTTP requests, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web applications. The remediation process must also include comprehensive logging and monitoring of file access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails for security incident response activities.