CVE-2007-6215 in Web-MeetMe
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in play.php in Web-MeetMe 3.0.3 allow remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the (1) roomNo and possibly the (2) bookid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6215 affects Web-MeetMe version 3.0.3 and represents a critical directory traversal flaw in the play.php script. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict user-supplied data from being processed in file system operations. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes the roomNo and bookid parameters without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to manipulate these inputs to access files outside the intended directory structure.
Directory traversal vulnerabilities occur when applications fail to properly validate or sanitize user input that is used in file system operations. In this case, the vulnerability enables attackers to append directory traversal sequences such as .. to the roomNo and bookid parameters, effectively allowing them to navigate the file system beyond the intended boundaries. The Common Weakness Enumeration categorizes this as CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, also known as path traversal or directory traversal. This weakness is particularly dangerous because it can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially system credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with the capability to read arbitrary files from the web server's file system. An attacker could potentially access sensitive information such as database connection strings, user credentials stored in configuration files, application source code, or even system-level files that contain critical system information. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the Web-MeetMe application and could enable further exploitation if sensitive files are accessible through the directory traversal mechanism. This type of vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK framework as T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) when combined with other attack vectors, as attackers can gather information about the target system to plan more sophisticated attacks.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through simple HTTP requests that manipulate the affected parameters. Attackers can construct malicious URLs that include the .. sequences in either the roomNo or bookid parameters, allowing them to traverse up the directory tree and access files that should normally be restricted. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects parameters that are likely used in legitimate application functionality, making it difficult to distinguish between normal and malicious traffic. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of input validation failure that can be addressed through proper parameter sanitization, input filtering, and the implementation of secure coding practices that enforce strict path validation before file system operations are performed. The remediation involves implementing proper input validation that rejects or sanitizes directory traversal sequences and ensuring that all file system operations are performed within predetermined safe directories.