CVE-2007-4723 in Ragnarok Online Control Panel
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Ragnarok Online Control Panel 4.3.4a, when the Apache HTTP Server is used, allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via directory traversal sequences in a URI that ends with the name of a publicly available page, as demonstrated by a "/...../" sequence and an account_manage.php/login.php final component for reaching the protected account_manage.php page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4723 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in the Ragnarok Online Control Panel version 4.3.4a when operating under Apache HTTP Server. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation within the web application's URI processing mechanism, specifically when handling directory traversal sequences. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate URI paths through crafted sequences that exploit the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before processing file requests. The vulnerability manifests when attackers construct malicious URIs that leverage directory traversal patterns to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to protected administrative resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental weakness in how the control panel handles file path resolution within the Apache environment. Attackers can append directory traversal sequences such as "/...../" to URIs that ultimately resolve to publicly accessible pages, effectively circumventing the authentication checks designed to protect sensitive administrative functions. The specific example demonstrates how a sequence ending with account_manage.php or login.php components can be manipulated to reach protected pages without proper authorization. This occurs because the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the URI components before attempting to resolve file paths, allowing attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory structure and access restricted resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with unauthorized access to administrative functions within the Ragnarok Online Control Panel. Successful exploitation enables attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely, potentially allowing them to modify user accounts, access sensitive administrative data, or perform other malicious activities within the control panel environment. The vulnerability affects the entire security posture of the system as it undermines the authentication layer that should protect access to critical administrative functions. This weakness can be particularly dangerous in online gaming environments where administrative access can lead to account manipulation, server compromise, or unauthorized modifications to game data and user information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4723 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application. Organizations should ensure that all URI components are properly validated and that directory traversal sequences are rejected or properly normalized before processing file requests. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. The remediation approach should include implementing a whitelist-based validation system that only accepts known good input patterns and rejects any suspicious path sequences. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms that are not vulnerable to URI manipulation attacks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, emphasizing the importance of proper input validation and access control implementations to prevent unauthorized system access. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications and ensure that proper security measures are in place to protect against directory traversal attacks.