CVE-2006-0700 in imageVue
Summary
by MITRE
imageVue 16.1 allows remote attackers to obtain folder permission settings via a direct request to dir.php, which returns an XML document that lists folders and their permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0700 affects imageVue 16.1, a web-based image gallery application that provides directory browsing capabilities through its web interface. This weakness represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that exposes sensitive system configuration data to unauthenticated remote attackers. The flaw resides in the application's handling of directory listing requests, specifically through the dir.php script which serves as the backend interface for folder enumeration and permission reporting. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and improper input validation within the directory traversal mechanism, allowing attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures and directly access sensitive folder permission information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper authorization checks within the dir.php script. When an attacker sends a direct HTTP request to this endpoint, the application processes the request without verifying whether the requester has legitimate access rights to view the directory structure. The script responds by generating an XML document that contains detailed folder listings along with their corresponding permission settings, effectively revealing the underlying file system structure and access controls to anyone who can reach the vulnerable endpoint. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, as the application fails to implement necessary authentication and authorization mechanisms before returning sensitive directory information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for further exploitation attempts. The exposed folder permissions reveal which directories are accessible to different user roles, potentially exposing sensitive application components, configuration files, or administrative directories that should remain hidden from public access. Attackers can use this information to map the application's directory structure, identify potential attack vectors, and plan more sophisticated exploitation strategies targeting specific folders or files that may contain credentials, backup files, or other sensitive data. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper information exposure, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system design.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including restricting direct access to the dir.php script through web server configuration, implementing proper authentication mechanisms before allowing directory access, and applying the latest security patches provided by the vendor. Network-level restrictions should be enforced to prevent unauthorized access to the vulnerable endpoint, while application-level controls should validate all incoming requests and enforce proper access control policies. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing issues related to information leakage and inadequate access control. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable endpoint, as this type of reconnaissance activity often precedes more serious exploitation attempts in the attack chain.