CVE-2006-1224 in GuppY
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in dwnld.php in GuppY 4.5.11 allows remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a "%2E." (mixed encoding) in the pg parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1224 represents a critical directory traversal flaw discovered in GuppY version 4.5.11, specifically within the dwnld.php component. This security weakness enables remote attackers to manipulate file operations by exploiting improper input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input passed through the pg parameter, creating an opportunity for attackers to navigate the file system beyond intended boundaries and potentially overwrite critical system files. The exploitation technique leverages mixed encoding sequences including "%2E." which represents a dot character encoded in hexadecimal format, allowing malicious actors to bypass standard directory traversal protection measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the GuppY content management system. When the pg parameter receives input containing the mixed encoding sequence "%2E.", the application processes this input without proper verification of directory traversal attempts. This flaw falls under the CWE-22 category known as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')", which specifically addresses the vulnerability where applications fail to properly validate or sanitize user input that could lead to unauthorized access to system resources. The weakness creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate file system operations by crafting malicious input that appears to reference legitimate files while actually targeting system directories.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file access restrictions, as it provides attackers with the capability to overwrite arbitrary files on the target system. Successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data loss, or the installation of malicious code. Attackers could potentially overwrite critical system files, configuration files, or even executable programs, leading to denial of service conditions or persistent backdoor access. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" in the context of remote code execution through directory traversal attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves implementing strict path validation that rejects any input containing directory traversal sequences or encoded representations of directory navigation characters. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized and validated before processing, particularly when handling file operations. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation can limit the damage that can be caused by successful exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include updating to patched versions of GuppY, implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious traversal attempts, and conducting thorough security reviews of all file handling operations within the application. Regular security testing including penetration testing and code reviews should be performed to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system.