CVE-2007-1042 in Xpression News
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in news.php in Xpression News (X-News) 1.0.1, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to include arbitrary files or obtain sensitive information via a .. (dot dot) in the xnews-template parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1042 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Xpression News (X-News) content management system version 1.0.1. This security weakness specifically affects systems where the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, creating an environment where malicious input can be processed without proper sanitization. The vulnerability manifests through the xnews-template parameter in the news.php script, which fails to adequately validate or sanitize user-supplied input before using it in file inclusion operations. This flaw falls under the category of CWE-22, known as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory," which is a fundamental weakness in input validation that allows attackers to manipulate file system access paths.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious request containing directory traversal sequences such as .. (dot dot) within the xnews-template parameter. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, these sequences are not automatically escaped or filtered by PHP, allowing the attacker to navigate outside the intended directory structure and potentially access arbitrary files on the server. This could enable attackers to include local files, execute arbitrary code, or obtain sensitive information such as configuration files, database credentials, or other confidential data stored on the server. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and sanitization, which is a fundamental security principle that should be implemented at multiple layers of application architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to the web application's file system, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data theft, or even full system control. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the X-News application and could result in unauthorized modification of content, disruption of services, or data breaches that compromise the confidentiality and integrity of the affected system. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications where user input is directly used in file operations without proper validation mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent directory traversal attacks. The most effective immediate fix involves disabling the use of user-supplied input in file inclusion operations or implementing strict whitelisting of acceptable template names. System administrators should ensure that magic_quotes_gpc is enabled or implement alternative input sanitization techniques to prevent malicious input from being processed. Additionally, the application should be updated to a newer version of X-News that addresses this vulnerability, as the affected version is likely to contain other security flaws. Organizations should also implement proper access controls, file system permissions, and monitoring mechanisms to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution through file inclusion vulnerabilities. The remediation efforts should include comprehensive security testing, including penetration testing and code review, to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application.