CVE-2007-2934 in Vistered Little
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in skins/common.css.php in Vistered Little 1.6a allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the skin parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2934 represents a classic directory traversal flaw within the Vistered Little 1.6a content management system. This issue manifests in the skins/common.css.php script where improper input validation allows malicious actors to manipulate the skin parameter through directory traversal sequences. The vulnerability specifically leverages the .. (dot dot) notation to navigate upward through the directory structure and access files that should remain protected from unauthorized retrieval.
This directory traversal vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. The flaw exists because the application fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input before using it to construct file paths. When the skin parameter contains sequences like ../../etc/passwd, the application processes these without proper validation, allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive files from the server's file system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to critical system files, configuration data, and sensitive information that could aid in further exploitation. An attacker could potentially access database configuration files, application credentials, system user files, or other sensitive data stored on the server. This vulnerability enables unauthorized information disclosure and could serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation or system compromise.
The attack vector for CVE-2007-2934 is straightforward and remote, requiring no special privileges or authentication to exploit. Attackers simply need to craft malicious URLs with directory traversal sequences in the skin parameter, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the vulnerable web application. This aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) where adversaries enumerate file systems to identify sensitive data and system information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file path construction. The application should employ whitelist validation techniques to ensure that only legitimate skin parameters are accepted, rejecting any input containing directory traversal sequences. Additionally, the system should operate with minimal privileges and implement proper access controls to limit the damage even if traversal attempts are successful. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the codebase. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious traversal attempts, though this represents a secondary defense measure rather than a primary fix. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in preventing directory traversal attacks, which remain one of the most prevalent and dangerous classes of web application vulnerabilities in the cybersecurity landscape.