CVE-2008-0794 in Affiliate Market
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in user/header.php in Affiliate Market 0.1 BETA allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the language parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0794 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Affiliate Market 0.1 BETA web application, specifically affecting the user/header.php component. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters before processing them within the application's file inclusion logic. The vulnerability manifests when the language parameter receives input containing .. (dot dot) sequences that manipulate the file path resolution process, allowing attackers to navigate outside the intended directory structure and access arbitrary local files on the server filesystem.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern that aligns with CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. Attackers can craft malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences such as ../../../etc/passwd or similar paths that bypass normal access controls. When the application processes these inputs through the vulnerable header.php script, it fails to validate or sanitize the language parameter, resulting in the inclusion of arbitrary local files. This flaw enables remote attackers to execute code or retrieve sensitive information from the server, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can facilitate privilege escalation and persistent access to the affected system. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves executing malicious code through web shells or file inclusion attacks. The remote nature of this exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or prior authentication credentials to leverage the vulnerability. Organizations running Affiliate Market 0.1 BETA are particularly at risk since the flaw affects core application components that handle user authentication and session management, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive business data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0794 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file inclusion operations. Security practitioners should enforce strict parameter validation that rejects or filters out directory traversal sequences, ensuring that all inputs conform to expected patterns and do not contain potentially dangerous characters or sequences. Additionally, the application should implement a whitelist-based approach to language parameter handling, allowing only pre-approved language codes to prevent arbitrary file access. Organizations should also consider implementing proper access controls and privilege separation to limit the impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, which aligns with industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar patterns in other application components that may be vulnerable to the same class of attack, ensuring comprehensive protection against directory traversal vulnerabilities.