CVE-2006-7080 in Content Management System
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the avatar upload feature in exV2 2.0.4.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary files via ".." sequences in the old_avatar parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-7080 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the exV2 2.0.4.3 content management system and earlier versions. This weakness specifically targets the avatar upload functionality, which serves as a common user interface element for profile customization. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict file path manipulation attempts. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences such as ".." within the old_avatar parameter, effectively bypassing normal file access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of user-supplied input during file operations. When the system processes avatar uploads, it fails to adequately validate or sanitize the old_avatar parameter, allowing attackers to manipulate file paths through directory traversal sequences. This flaw 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 vulnerability enables attackers to navigate outside the intended directory structure and access or manipulate files that should remain protected. The exploitation mechanism relies on the system's failure to properly canonicalize or validate file paths, allowing malicious sequences to be interpreted as legitimate file operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to system integrity and data security. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to delete arbitrary files from the server filesystem, potentially compromising critical system files, user data, or application configuration files. The ability to perform arbitrary file deletion creates opportunities for complete system compromise, data destruction, and denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects not only individual user accounts but can potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the underlying system infrastructure. This type of attack can result in significant business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage for affected organizations.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. Attackers can use directory traversal vulnerabilities as initial access vectors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability also supports techniques related to credential access and defense evasion by allowing attackers to manipulate or delete system files that may contain authentication information or security controls. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation controls and establish proper file access restrictions to prevent such attacks. The recommended mitigations include implementing strict input validation for all user-supplied parameters, employing proper file path canonicalization, and restricting file operations to predefined safe directories. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security testing to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and maintaining up-to-date security controls to protect against known attack patterns and emerging threats in the cybersecurity landscape.