CVE-2006-4298 in osCommerce
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in cache.php in osCommerce before 2.2 Milestone 2 060817 allow remote attackers to determine existence of arbitrary files and disclose the installation path via a .. (dot dot) in unspecified parameters in the (1) tep_cache_also_purchased, (2) tep_cache_manufacturers_box, and (3) tep_cache_categories_box functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-4298 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting osCommerce versions prior to 2.2 Milestone 2 060817. This issue specifically targets the cache.php file and impacts three distinct caching functions: tep_cache_also_purchased, tep_cache_manufacturers_box, and tep_cache_categories_box. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within these functions, allowing remote attackers to manipulate unspecified parameters through the use of .. (dot dot) sequences. This weakness enables attackers to traverse the file system hierarchy and access files that should remain protected within the application's directory structure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of parameter values passed to the affected caching functions. When these functions process input containing directory traversal sequences, they fail to properly sanitize or validate the input before using it in file system operations. This lack of proper validation creates an opportunity for attackers to construct malicious paths that can reveal file existence and potentially disclose sensitive installation paths. The vulnerability operates at the application level rather than the operating system level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through web-based interfaces without requiring direct system access. The impact extends beyond simple file enumeration to potentially exposing critical system information that could aid in further exploitation attempts.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to osCommerce installations as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized knowledge about the underlying file system structure. The disclosure of installation paths can provide attackers with valuable information for planning subsequent attacks, while the ability to determine file existence enables reconnaissance activities that could lead to more sophisticated exploitation. The vulnerability affects the core caching functionality of the e-commerce platform, potentially compromising the integrity of cached data and creating opportunities for data manipulation or injection attacks. Organizations running affected versions of osCommerce face increased risk of system compromise, data exposure, and potential unauthorized access to sensitive business information. The vulnerability also represents a violation of security best practices as outlined in CWE-22, which addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Tactic of Credential Access and Defense Evasion. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gather intelligence about the target system before launching more sophisticated attacks, potentially progressing through stages such as reconnaissance and privilege escalation. The vulnerability's impact on caching functions could also affect the availability and integrity of cached content, creating potential denial of service conditions or data corruption scenarios. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack surface assessment, particularly when evaluating web applications for directory traversal vulnerabilities. The presence of this flaw in a widely used e-commerce platform demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation issues can create significant security risks when present in core application components. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing proper input validation measures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in their own environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4298 should focus on immediate patching of affected osCommerce installations to version 2.2 Milestone 2 060817 or later. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures within the cache.php file can provide defense in depth. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious parameter patterns, particularly those containing directory traversal sequences. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of validating all user inputs and implementing proper access controls to prevent unauthorized file system access. System administrators should also monitor for unusual file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive logging to support incident response activities.