CVE-2007-2960 in Scallywag
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in Scallywag 2005-04-25 allow remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the skin_name parameter to template.php in (1) skin/dark/, (2) skin/gold/, or (3) skin/original/, a different vector than CVE-2007-2900. 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 • 09/03/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2960 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting the Scallywag content management system version 2005-04-25. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation within the template.php script, specifically in the skin_name parameter handling. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to manipulate file inclusion mechanisms by exploiting the .. (dot dot) sequence in parameter values, enabling unauthorized access to local files on the server. The affected paths include three distinct skin directories: skin/dark/, skin/gold/, and skin/original/, each representing separate attack vectors that could potentially be exploited independently or in combination. This directory traversal vulnerability operates through a different mechanism than CVE-2007-2900, indicating multiple distinct code paths within the application that share similar security weaknesses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes user-supplied input through the skin_name parameter without proper sanitization or validation. When an attacker submits a malicious payload containing directory traversal sequences such as ../../../../etc/passwd, the application fails to properly restrict file access paths, allowing the inclusion of arbitrary local files. This flaw directly maps to CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability essentially bypasses normal file access controls by manipulating the file system path resolution mechanism, enabling attackers to read sensitive files, execute arbitrary code, or potentially gain system-level access depending on the server configuration and file permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-2960 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary local files on the target system. This could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the deployment of backdoors and additional malicious payloads. The vulnerability affects the core templating functionality of the Scallywag application, potentially allowing attackers to access configuration files, database credentials, user information, or other sensitive system resources. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically the use of credential dumping and privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities. The impact is particularly severe because it allows attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and directly access the underlying file system, potentially leading to persistent access and further network compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate code-level issues and implement broader security controls. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization for the skin_name parameter, ensuring that all user-supplied input is strictly validated against a whitelist of acceptable values. Organizations should implement proper path normalization and restriction mechanisms that prevent traversal sequences from being processed. Additionally, the application should enforce proper file access controls and implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring that the web application operates with minimal necessary permissions. Security measures should include regular input validation, proper error handling to prevent information leakage, and implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious traversal attempts. System administrators should also conduct thorough code reviews and security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack, as this vulnerability represents a common pattern that may exist elsewhere in the codebase. The remediation process should also include monitoring for exploitation attempts and implementing proper logging mechanisms to track suspicious file access patterns.