CVE-2006-0910 in IP.Board
Summary
by MITRE
Invision Power Board (IPB) 2.1.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to list directory contents via a direct request to multiple directories, including (1) sources/loginauth/convert/, (2) sources/portal_plugins/, (3) cache/skin_cache/cacheid_2/, (4) ips_kernel/PEAR/, (5) ips_kernel/PEAR/Text/, (6) ips_kernel/PEAR/Text/Diff/, (7) ips_kernel/PEAR/Text/Diff/Renderer/, (8) style_images/1/folder_rte_files/, (9) style_images/1/folder_js_skin/, (10) style_images/1/folder_rte_images/, and (11) upgrade/ and its subdirectories.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0910 affects Invision Power Board version 2.1.4 and earlier, representing a critical directory traversal and information disclosure flaw that enables remote attackers to enumerate directory contents across multiple paths within the application's filesystem. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the web application's directory handling logic, allowing unauthorized users to bypass normal access restrictions and gain visibility into sensitive directory structures. The affected paths include critical application directories such as sources/loginauth/convert/, sources/portal_plugins/, and various cache and kernel directories that typically should remain inaccessible to external users. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of direct requests to these directories without proper authentication or authorization checks, creating an information disclosure channel that can reveal internal application structure and potentially sensitive file paths.
This flaw operates as a classic directory listing vulnerability where the web application fails to properly validate or sanitize directory paths submitted through direct HTTP requests. Attackers can exploit this by simply requesting the vulnerable directories directly through their web browser or automated tools, causing the server to return directory contents that would normally be protected. The vulnerability affects multiple directory paths including cache/skin_cache/cacheid_2/, ips_kernel/PEAR/, and upgrade/ subdirectories, indicating a systemic issue in how the application handles path resolution for various components including skin files, kernel libraries, and upgrade processes. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as these directories often contain application logic, configuration files, and potentially sensitive data that could aid in further exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-548 Information Exposure Through Directory Listing, which specifically addresses the risk of unauthorized directory enumeration that can reveal application architecture and potentially sensitive file information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with detailed knowledge of the application's internal filesystem structure, which can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. Remote attackers can leverage this information to identify potential attack vectors, locate sensitive files, and understand the application's architecture to plan targeted exploitation attempts. The vulnerability affects multiple application components including user authentication systems, portal plugins, skin rendering engines, and upgrade mechanisms, suggesting that the attack surface is broad and could potentially lead to privilege escalation or further compromise of the system. The fact that this affects both cache directories and core kernel libraries indicates that attackers could potentially discover temporary files, configuration data, or other sensitive information that might not be directly accessible through normal application interfaces. This type of vulnerability commonly maps to ATT&CK technique T1083 Directory Listing, where adversaries enumerate directory structures to discover potential targets for exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper access controls and input validation mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves implementing comprehensive directory access controls that prevent direct access to sensitive application directories through user-facing interfaces. Application developers should implement proper authentication checks before allowing directory access, and ensure that all directory paths are properly validated and sanitized before processing. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in OWASP Top 10 and the principle of least privilege in web application development. System administrators should also implement proper web server configurations to prevent directory listing, disable unnecessary directory access, and ensure that sensitive directories are not directly accessible through web interfaces. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this type of flaw often indicates broader architectural security issues that may affect other parts of the system. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of implementing proper input validation and access control mechanisms in web applications to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.