CVE-2006-2404 in RadLance
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in popup.php in RadScripts RadLance Gold 7.0 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the read parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2404 represents a classic directory traversal flaw within the RadScripts RadLance Gold 7.0 web application. This issue resides in the popup.php script which processes file reading operations through a read parameter, creating an opportunity for attackers to access arbitrary files on the server filesystem. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, specifically when handling directory navigation sequences.
This directory traversal vulnerability operates by allowing malicious actors to manipulate the read parameter to include directory traversal sequences such as .. (dot dot) which enables navigation outside of intended directories. When the application processes these sequences without proper validation, it can access files that should remain restricted, potentially exposing sensitive system information, configuration files, or even source code. The flaw directly maps to CWE-22 which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise. Attackers leveraging this flaw could access database configuration files containing credentials, application source code revealing implementation details, or system files that might provide additional attack vectors. The remote nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not require local system access or credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing applications. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 which covers directory and file searches, and T1566 which encompasses credential access through various attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file operations. The application should employ absolute path resolution and validate that requested paths remain within designated directories. Input filtering should remove or encode directory traversal sequences, while proper access controls should be implemented to restrict file access to authorized users only. Additionally, the application should utilize secure coding practices such as whitelisting allowed file types and implementing proper error handling that does not reveal internal system paths. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in preventing common web application security flaws and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.