CVE-2008-1301 in OpenCms
Summary
by MITRE
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in system/workplace/admin/workplace/logfileview/logfileViewSettings.jsp in Alkacon OpenCms 7.0.3 and 7.0.4 allows remote authenticated administrators to read arbitrary files via a full pathname in the filePath.0 parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2025
The CVE-2008-1301 vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw within the Alkacon OpenCms content management system version 7.0.3 and 7.0.4. This vulnerability specifically affects the logfileViewSettings.jsp component located within the administrative workplace module, making it accessible to authenticated administrators who can exploit the flaw to read arbitrary files on the server. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the filePath.0 parameter, which allows maliciously crafted absolute paths to be processed without proper authorization checks. This flaw fundamentally undermines the security boundaries of the application's file access controls and exposes sensitive system information to unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of user-supplied input within the file path parameter. When an authenticated administrator accesses the logfileViewSettings.jsp page and provides a malicious filePath.0 value containing an absolute path, the application fails to validate or sanitize this input before using it to access files on the underlying file system. This lack of proper input validation creates a direct path traversal condition that bypasses normal file access controls. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the administrative interface components, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users who already possess administrative privileges but could potentially escalate their access to read files outside of intended directories.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to system security and data integrity within OpenCms deployments. Attackers who can authenticate as administrators can leverage this flaw to access sensitive system files, configuration data, log files, and potentially database credentials or other confidential information stored on the server. The ability to read arbitrary files creates opportunities for information disclosure attacks that could lead to further exploitation, including the extraction of application source code, database connection strings, or other sensitive configuration parameters. This vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor mechanism for accessing files that should remain protected within the application's security boundaries, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. This classification reflects the fundamental flaw in input validation and the lack of proper access control enforcement when processing file system requests. The attack pattern follows typical directory traversal methodologies documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to privilege escalation and information gathering. Organizations using affected OpenCms versions should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, parameter sanitization, and access control enforcement. Recommended solutions include patching to versions 7.0.5 or later, implementing proper input validation for file path parameters, restricting administrative access to only necessary functionality, and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns in system logs. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms can provide additional protective layers against exploitation attempts.