CVE-2007-6323 in MMS Gallery PHP
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in MMS Gallery PHP 1.0 allow remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the id parameter to (1) get_image.php or (2) get_file.php in mms_template/.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6323 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting MMS Gallery PHP version 1.0. This security weakness resides in the gallery's file handling mechanisms and specifically targets two key scripts: get_image.php and get_file.php within the mms_template/ directory structure. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters, particularly the id parameter that controls file access operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting .. (dot dot) sequences into the id parameter, effectively manipulating the file system path resolution to access files outside the intended directory boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, which classifies directory traversal or path traversal issues as a fundamental security flaw where attackers can access files and directories they should not be able to reach through normal application functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant and multifaceted, as it allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files from the server's file system without proper authentication or authorization. This means that an attacker could potentially access sensitive configuration files, database credentials, user data, or even system files that contain critical information. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized access to the underlying file system, which could lead to complete system compromise if sensitive files containing passwords, encryption keys, or other critical data are accessible through this path traversal mechanism. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no local access or authentication, making it a remote code execution risk that can be exploited from anywhere on the internet.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) as attackers can use this weakness to discover and extract sensitive files from the target system. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious URLs with encoded directory traversal sequences such as ../../etc/passwd or similar system files, which when processed by the vulnerable application, result in unauthorized file disclosure. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper file access controls in web applications. The flaw represents a classic example of how insufficient sanitization of user inputs can lead to severe security consequences, particularly in applications that handle file operations. Organizations using affected versions of MMS Gallery PHP should immediately implement mitigations including proper input validation, restricting file access through proper access controls, and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block such traversal attempts. Additionally, this vulnerability highlights the necessity of regular security audits and code reviews to identify similar path traversal issues in other applications and systems that may be susceptible to the same class of attacks.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability involves multiple layers of security controls. Primary mitigation requires implementing strict input validation on the id parameter to reject any sequences containing .. or similar directory traversal patterns. Applications should enforce proper access controls that restrict file operations to predefined directories and validate all file access requests against a whitelist of allowed files or directories. Additionally, the use of absolute paths and proper file system permissions can prevent unauthorized access even if input validation fails. Organizations should also consider implementing security headers and web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious traversal attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that even simple applications can contain critical security flaws that can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise, emphasizing the importance of security by design principles and regular vulnerability assessments to maintain robust application security postures.