CVE-2006-2952 in Net Portal Dynamic System
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Net Portal Dynamic System (NPDS) 5.10 and earlier allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) sequence and trailing null (%00) byte in the (1) Default_Theme parameter to header.php or (2) ModPath parameter to modules/cluster-paradise/cluster-E.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2952 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Net Portal Dynamic System (NPDS) version 5.10 and earlier implementations. This security weakness fundamentally stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters before processing them within the application's file handling routines. The vulnerability specifically affects two distinct parameter inputs: Default_Theme parameter within the header.php script and the ModPath parameter within the modules/cluster-paradise/cluster-E.php module, creating multiple attack vectors for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the manipulation of file path references through the use of directory traversal sequences combined with null byte injection techniques. Attackers can append the .. (dot dot) sequence to navigate upward through the directory structure and combine this with trailing null bytes (%00) to bypass certain input filtering mechanisms. This combination allows adversaries to craft malicious requests that can traverse beyond the intended application directory boundaries and access arbitrary files on the server filesystem. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper path validation and sanitization, which directly maps to CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive system files including configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and potentially system user files. This could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized administrative access to the affected web application. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of NPDS by allowing unauthorized file access that undermines the application's security model and trust boundaries. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability corresponds to T1083 - File and Directory Discovery and T1566 - Phishing, as it enables attackers to gather information about the target system and potentially use this information for further exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization measures across all user-supplied parameters. The system should enforce strict path validation that prevents directory traversal sequences from being processed, implement proper parameter filtering to reject malicious input patterns, and ensure that all file access operations are confined to predetermined safe directories. Organizations should also apply the latest security patches provided by NPDS vendors and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious traversal attempts. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the system infrastructure.