CVE-2007-1487 in WebLog
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in index.php in Sascha Schroeder (aka CyberTeddy or Cyber-inside) WebLog allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the file parameter in a showarticles action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1487 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Sascha Schroeder WebLog application, specifically affecting the index.php script. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which classifies improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw exists in the showarticles action of the web application's core functionality, where user input is not properly sanitized before being used to construct file paths for content retrieval.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the file parameter through a .. (dot dot) sequence, allowing them to navigate outside the intended directory structure and access arbitrary files on the server filesystem. This occurs because the application fails to validate or sanitize the file parameter input, directly incorporating user-supplied data into file access operations without proper boundary checks or path normalization. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to bypass access controls and retrieve sensitive files that should remain protected, including configuration files, database credentials, or other system files that may contain confidential information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to potentially sensitive system information and data. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to read system configuration files, database connection strings, or even application source code, which could lead to further exploitation opportunities. The attack vector requires no special privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user input. This vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in input validation and access control implementation, potentially exposing the entire application to data leakage and system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing proper input validation and sanitization techniques to prevent directory traversal attempts. The application should normalize all file paths, reject or filter out special characters like .. sequences, and ensure that all file access operations occur within predetermined safe directories. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and employ secure coding practices that validate all user inputs before processing. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in web applications. The remediation approach should align with the ATT&CK framework's defensive techniques for preventing command injection and path traversal attacks, emphasizing the importance of input validation and secure file handling practices. This vulnerability underscores the critical need for proper security controls in web application development and the importance of adhering to secure coding standards to prevent such fundamental flaws from being introduced into production systems.