CVE-2006-6175 in Kronolith
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in lib/FBView.php in Horde Kronolith H3 before 2.0.7 and 2.1.x before 2.1.4 allows remote attackers to include arbitrary files and execute PHP code via a .. (dot dot) sequence in the view parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-6175 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Horde Kronolith H3 web application framework. This security weakness exists in the lib/FBView.php component and affects versions prior to 2.0.7 and 2.1.x before 2.1.4, making it a significant concern for organizations utilizing this calendar management system. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters, specifically the view parameter that controls which view file is included and executed within the application context. This directory traversal vulnerability enables remote attackers to manipulate the application's file inclusion behavior by injecting .. (dot dot) sequences into the view parameter, effectively allowing them to traverse the file system and access arbitrary files on the server.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the PHP include or require functions that process user input without proper sanitization. When an attacker crafts a malicious request containing directory traversal sequences in the view parameter, the application processes these inputs and attempts to include files from locations outside the intended directory structure. This misconfiguration allows for arbitrary file inclusion attacks where attackers can access sensitive files such as configuration files, database credentials, or other system files that should remain protected. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The attack vector specifically leverages the weakness in the application's file inclusion mechanism, where the view parameter is used to determine which PHP view file to load, creating an opportunity for attackers to redirect this loading process to malicious files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables full remote code execution capabilities when combined with appropriate file access. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary PHP code on the target server, potentially gaining complete control over the affected system. The implications include unauthorized data access, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Organizations running affected versions of Horde Kronolith H3 face significant risk of unauthorized access to calendar data, user information, and potentially sensitive organizational data stored within the application's database. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems to versions 2.0.7 or 2.1.4 and later, which contain the necessary fixes to prevent directory traversal attacks. System administrators should implement proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that reject or encode directory traversal sequences in user-supplied parameters. The application should enforce strict file inclusion policies that validate all requested files against a whitelist of acceptable paths, preventing access to arbitrary file locations. Network security controls including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious patterns in the view parameter that may indicate directory traversal attempts. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be applied by ensuring that the web application runs with minimal necessary permissions and that file system access is restricted to only required directories. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper file access controls, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for PHP code execution and T1068 for local privilege escalation through application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications within their infrastructure.