CVE-2006-0694 in Ansilove
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the loaders (load_*.php) in Ansilove before 1.03 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors involving "converting files accessible by the webserver".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-0694 represents a critical security flaw in the Ansilove image conversion software version 1.02 and earlier. This issue resides within the loader components of the application, specifically in files named load_*.php which handle file processing operations. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to perform unauthorized file access operations by exploiting the webserver's file handling mechanisms. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths may exist, but the core weakness lies in how the application processes file conversions without proper input validation or access controls. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the category of insecure file handling or improper access control, where the application fails to verify that user-supplied input does not reference files outside of intended directories.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal or file inclusion flaw that allows attackers to manipulate the file loading process. When the application processes file conversions, it likely accepts user-provided file paths or identifiers without adequate sanitization or authorization checks. This creates an opportunity for attackers to specify arbitrary file paths that point to sensitive system files accessible by the webserver process. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it may enable attackers to access configuration files, database credentials, or other sensitive data stored on the server. This weakness aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-73, which covers external control of file name or path, indicating that user input directly influences file system operations.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems running affected versions of Ansilove, particularly those deployed in web environments where the application processes user-uploaded files. Attackers could leverage this flaw to extract sensitive information from the webserver, potentially gaining access to database connection strings, administrative credentials, or other confidential data. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system. This vulnerability would be particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments or when the application runs with elevated privileges, as it could provide attackers with access to files beyond the web root directory. The impact on system integrity and confidentiality is substantial, as unauthorized file access could lead to complete system compromise or data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-0694 should focus on immediate remediation through software updates to version 1.03 or later, which presumably contains the necessary security patches. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization for all file handling operations, ensuring that user-provided paths are properly validated against a whitelist of acceptable directories. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running the webserver process with minimal required permissions and limiting the application's access to only necessary file system resources. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and file permission settings can prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files even if the vulnerability is exploited. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security risks, specifically addressing the issue of insecure file handling that can lead to privilege escalation and data exposure.