CVE-2006-2060 in IP.Board
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in action_admin/paysubscriptions.php in Invision Power Board (IPB) 2.1.x and 2.0.x before 20060425 allows remote authenticated administrators to include and execute arbitrary local PHP files via a .. (dot dot) in the name parameter, preceded by enough backspace (%08) characters to erase the initial static portion of a filename.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-2060 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Invision Power Board versions 2.1.x and 2.0.x prior to the 20060425 patch release. This security weakness specifically affects the action_admin/paysubscriptions.php component of the IPB platform, which is designed to handle administrative payment subscription functionalities. The flaw enables authenticated administrators with malicious intent to exploit a path traversal mechanism that bypasses normal file access controls and allows arbitrary code execution through carefully crafted input parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability relies on a sophisticated manipulation of file path resolution mechanisms within the PHP application. Attackers can leverage the name parameter in the paysubscriptions.php script by incorporating multiple dot-dot sequences followed by backspace characters encoded as %08. This specific encoding technique allows the attacker to overwrite the initial static portion of a filename, effectively manipulating the file path resolution process to access files outside the intended directory structure. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters that are directly incorporated into file system operations without proper path normalization or access control checks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems running affected IPB versions, particularly because it requires only authenticated administrator access to exploit. The attack vector demonstrates a sophisticated approach to bypassing file system restrictions that would normally prevent access to sensitive server files. Security researchers have identified this as a directory traversal vulnerability classified under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. The ability to include and execute arbitrary PHP files through this mechanism creates a potential for complete system compromise, allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, system resources, or even execute malicious code with administrative privileges.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the T1059.007 sub-technique for execution through PHP and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. The attack requires an authenticated administrator account, which suggests that the vulnerability could be exploited through credential compromise or social engineering tactics to gain initial access. Organizations running affected IPB versions should implement immediate mitigation measures including applying the vendor patch released on 20060425, implementing proper input validation for all user-supplied parameters, and conducting thorough security audits of administrative interfaces. Additionally, network segmentation and access control policies should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect suspicious file access patterns and parameter manipulation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper input validation and the dangers of allowing user-supplied data to influence file system operations without adequate sanitization and access control mechanisms in place.