CVE-2006-4721 in Pro Sports CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in admin.php in CCleague Pro Sports CMS 1.0.1 RC1 allows remote attackers to read and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) sequence and trailing null (%00) byte in the language Cookie parameter, as demonstrated by executing PHP code via a log file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2024
The CVE-2006-4721 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the CCleague Pro Sports CMS version 1.0.1 RC1, specifically affecting the admin.php component. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation of the language cookie parameter, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to manipulate file access paths. The flaw enables attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory structure and access arbitrary local files on the server hosting the CMS. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it combines traditional directory traversal techniques with null byte injection, making it more difficult to detect and mitigate through standard security measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the insecure handling of user-supplied input in the language parameter of the admin.php script. When the application processes the language cookie value, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before using it in file operations. Attackers can construct malicious cookie values containing sequences of .. (dot dot) characters followed by a null byte %00, which allows them to traverse the file system directory structure and access files that should remain protected. The inclusion of the null byte serves to terminate strings in certain contexts, enabling the attacker to bypass simple input filtering mechanisms that might otherwise detect the directory traversal attempts.
This vulnerability has significant operational impact on systems running the affected CMS version, as it provides attackers with the ability to read sensitive files including configuration files, database credentials, and potentially execute arbitrary PHP code. The demonstration of executing PHP code via log files shows that attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain full control over the web application and potentially the underlying server. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication, making it a remote code execution vulnerability that can be exploited from anywhere on the internet. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems, as attackers can exfiltrate data, modify application behavior, or completely compromise the server.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which specifically addresses the issue of insufficient input validation allowing directory traversal attacks. Additionally, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python, which covers the execution of malicious code through web applications, and T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, which encompasses the reconnaissance activities necessary to identify accessible files. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation for all cookie parameters, implementing proper path sanitization routines, and restricting file access permissions to prevent unauthorized file system traversal. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the CMS, as the vulnerability exists due to fundamental design flaws in the input handling mechanisms that require code-level fixes rather than configuration changes.