CVE-2008-1884 in Opus
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in index.php in Wikepage Opus 13 2007.2 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via directory traversal sequences in the wiki parameter, a different vector than CVE-2006-4418.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1884 represents a directory traversal flaw in the Wikepage Opus 13 2007.2 web application's index.php script. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of the wiki parameter which processes user input without proper validation or sanitization. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure by manipulating directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ in the wiki parameter value. Unlike CVE-2006-4418 which targeted a different attack vector, this particular flaw focuses on the wiki parameter specifically within the Wikepage Opus 13 framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the index.php file. When the application processes the wiki parameter, it fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied data before using it to construct file paths. This allows attackers to inject directory traversal sequences that bypass normal access controls and potentially access sensitive files on the server. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through HTTP requests that include malicious path sequences in the wiki parameter, enabling unauthorized file access from the web server's file system.
From an operational impact perspective, this directory traversal vulnerability poses significant risks to system security and data confidentiality. Attackers could potentially access configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other sensitive information stored on the web server. The vulnerability enables unauthorized file reading operations that could lead to complete system compromise, especially if the application has access to critical system files or sensitive data repositories. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require local access or authentication to leverage this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
Security professionals should address this vulnerability by implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures for all user-supplied parameters. The recommended mitigations include implementing strict parameter validation that rejects or filters out directory traversal sequences, employing whitelisting approaches for allowed file paths, and ensuring proper access controls are enforced. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious directory traversal attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1083 for discovery of files and directories, as attackers may use this vulnerability to enumerate system resources. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities in web applications.