CVE-2007-2303 in News Manager Deluxe
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in includes/footer.php in News Manager Deluxe (NMDeluxe) 1.0.1 allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the template parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2303 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the News Manager Deluxe content management system version 1.0.1. This vulnerability exists in the includes/footer.php file and specifically affects the template parameter handling mechanism. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate file inclusion paths by exploiting the .. (dot dot) sequence, which is a well-established technique for navigating upward through directory structures. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. This weakness enables attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure, potentially leading to unauthorized data access or system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input passed through the template parameter in the footer.php file. When a malicious user submits a request containing directory traversal sequences such as ../../../etc/passwd or similar paths, the application processes these inputs without adequate sanitization, allowing the attacker to specify arbitrary local file paths. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to secure coding standards. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the file system level, potentially enabling attackers to read sensitive system files, execute arbitrary code, or even gain full system control depending on the application's execution context and file permissions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for systems running News Manager Deluxe 1.0.1, as it provides remote attackers with a straightforward method to bypass normal access controls and potentially escalate privileges. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, especially if the application runs with elevated privileges or if sensitive configuration files are accessible through the traversal mechanism. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in internet-facing environments. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which describes the use of remote code execution capabilities to gain persistent access to systems. Organizations using this vulnerable software face potential exposure to credential theft, data exfiltration, and service disruption attacks that could compromise their entire web infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2303 should focus on immediate patching of the News Manager Deluxe application to the latest available version that addresses this directory traversal vulnerability. System administrators should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malicious path traversal sequences from being processed by the application. The implementation of a whitelist-based approach for template parameter handling, where only predefined and trusted template names are accepted, provides an effective defense against this class of vulnerability. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by running the web application with minimal required permissions, limiting the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can detect and block suspicious path traversal patterns. The vulnerability's remediation aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework, particularly focusing on input validation controls and secure coding practices. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure.