CVE-2005-3550 in toendaCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in admin.php in toendaCMS before 0.6.2 allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the id_user parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3550 represents a classic directory traversal flaw that existed in the toendaCMS content management system prior to version 0.6.2. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. The flaw manifests in the admin.php script where user input is not properly sanitized before being used to construct file paths, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to access files outside the intended directory structure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the id_user parameter which is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization. When attackers submit a payload containing .. (dot dot) sequences in the id_user parameter, the application fails to properly resolve the requested path, allowing them to traverse up the directory hierarchy and access files that should remain restricted. This behavior stems from improper input validation mechanisms that do not adequately restrict user-supplied data from containing directory traversal sequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides remote attackers with unauthorized access to arbitrary files on the server hosting the vulnerable CMS. Depending on the server configuration and file permissions, attackers could potentially access sensitive configuration files, database credentials, user information, or even system files that contain critical operational data. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and could lead to complete system compromise if sensitive files are accessible through the traversal mechanism.
This vulnerability aligns with several tactics outlined in the attack pattern taxonomy, particularly those involving privilege escalation and information disclosure. The ability to traverse directories and access arbitrary files represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security controls, allowing attackers to gather intelligence about the system and potentially escalate their access privileges. The attack vector is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it particularly dangerous in environments where toendaCMS is deployed without proper security hardening.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization techniques to prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed. This includes filtering out or encoding special characters such as .. and / that could be used to manipulate file paths. Additionally, the application should enforce strict path validation that ensures all file operations occur within predetermined safe directories. The fix for this specific vulnerability required updating to toendaCMS version 0.6.2 or later, which included proper input sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should also implement proper access controls, file permissions, and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future software deployments.