CVE-2006-1909 in Photo Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in index.php in Coppermine 1.4.4 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .//./ (modified dot dot slash) in the file parameter, which causes a regular expression to collapse the sequences into standard "../" sequences.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1909 represents a directory traversal flaw within the Coppermine photo gallery software version 1.4.4. This issue specifically affects the index.php script and stems from improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately sanitize file path parameters. The vulnerability exploits a weakness in how the application processes file references, particularly when handling sequences that appear to be legitimate path navigation components but are actually crafted to bypass security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability relies on a specific pattern of input manipulation using the .//./ sequence which, when processed by the application's regular expression engine, gets converted into standard "../" sequences. This transformation occurs due to the regular expression's failure to properly account for the special handling of dot-dot-slash sequences in file path resolution. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input sanitization where the application does not properly validate or normalize file path parameters before processing them, allowing attackers to craft malicious input that appears benign but when processed, results in unintended file system access.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the web server hosting the Coppermine application. The attacker can leverage this weakness to read sensitive files such as configuration files, database credentials, user information, or even system files that should remain protected from public access. The ability to traverse directories and access unauthorized files represents a significant security risk that could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the compromised environment. This vulnerability effectively undermines the application's access controls and file system security boundaries.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and demonstrates how inadequate input validation can lead to path traversal attacks. From an attack framework perspective, this issue maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing with Malicious Attachments) as attackers can use this vulnerability to discover and extract sensitive data from the target system. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it an attractive target for automated scanning tools and malicious actors seeking to exploit vulnerable web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the Coppermine application to a version that properly addresses the input validation flaw. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization measures that normalize and validate all file path parameters before processing them, ensuring that sequences like .//./ are properly handled and do not result in path traversal. Additionally, implementing proper access controls, restricting file system permissions, and deploying web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection. The fix should include robust regular expression handling that properly accounts for special path sequences and prevents their manipulation into potentially dangerous patterns, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding and input validation.