CVE-2006-1073 in Simplog
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in index.php in Daverave Simplog 1.0.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to include or read arbitrary .txt files via the (1) act and (2) blogid parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1073 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting Daverave Simplog version 1.0.2 and earlier. This issue resides within the index.php script where improper input validation allows attackers to manipulate parameter values to access arbitrary files on the server. The vulnerability specifically impacts the act and blogid parameters, which when manipulated can lead to unauthorized file inclusion or reading operations. Such directory traversal vulnerabilities fall under CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially gain access to sensitive information stored in text files.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the act and blogid parameters in the index.php script. When these parameters are not properly sanitized or validated, attackers can craft malicious input sequences that traverse the file system directories. This typically involves using sequences like ../ or ..\ to move up directory levels and access files outside the intended web root or application directory. The impact extends beyond simple file reading to potential code execution if the application includes or executes the targeted files, particularly when the application uses functions like include(), require(), or similar file inclusion mechanisms. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to read any .txt file on the server, which could contain sensitive data such as configuration files, user credentials, or application data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to web application security and data confidentiality. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive information from the server without authentication, potentially leading to further compromise of the system. The impact is particularly severe because it allows access to arbitrary text files, which could include database connection strings, application configuration details, or other sensitive data that might not be directly exposed through normal application interfaces. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers directory and file permissions enumeration, and T1566, which covers malicious file execution through web applications. Organizations running affected versions of Simplog are at risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations depending on the nature of the data accessed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. The most effective approach involves validating all user-supplied input through whitelisting techniques, ensuring that only expected parameter values are accepted. Parameter validation should occur at multiple levels, including server-side validation before any file operations are performed. Implementing proper access controls and restricting file access to only necessary directories can significantly reduce the attack surface. Additionally, developers should avoid using user-supplied input directly in file inclusion operations, instead using a mapping system that translates parameter values to safe file paths. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping web applications updated and patched, as this issue was resolved in later versions of the software. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file access patterns and parameter manipulation attempts, as these activities often precede successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation rules to prevent exploitation attempts before they can affect the application.