CVE-2008-1702 in My Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in dload.php in the my_gallery 2.3 plugin for e107 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a full pathname in the file parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2025
The CVE-2008-1702 vulnerability represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw within the my_gallery 2.3 plugin for the e107 content management system. This vulnerability exists in the dload.php script which processes file parameters without adequate input validation, creating a pathway for remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the server filesystem. The issue stems from the plugin's failure to sanitize user-supplied input passed through the file parameter, allowing malicious actors to craft requests that traverse the file system hierarchy and retrieve sensitive information from locations outside the intended directory structure.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category of Path Traversal attacks, specifically classified as absolute path traversal since attackers can specify complete file paths rather than relying on relative path manipulation. The flaw operates by accepting user input directly into the file parameter without proper validation or sanitization, enabling attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially obtain confidential data including configuration files, database credentials, user information, and other sensitive system artifacts. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for arbitrary file reading across the entire filesystem, not just within the web root directory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the ability to access critical system files that may contain authentication credentials, database connection strings, or other sensitive configuration data. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain insights into the system architecture, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects all versions of the my_gallery plugin prior to the patch release, making it a widespread concern for e107 installations that have not been updated. The attack vector is straightforward requiring only a web browser or HTTP client to send crafted requests to the vulnerable dload.php endpoint.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1702 should include immediate patching of the my_gallery plugin to version 2.4 or later, which contains proper input validation and sanitization measures. System administrators should implement proper file access controls and ensure that the web server operates with minimal required privileges to limit potential damage from successful exploitation. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with rules to detect and block path traversal patterns can provide defense-in-depth protection. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1213 for Data from Information Repositories and T1078 for Valid Accounts. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy systems and ensure proper patch management processes are in place to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.