CVE-2008-2073 in vlbook
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in include/global.inc.php in Virtual Design Studio vlbook 1.21 allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the l parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2073 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Virtual Design Studio vlbook 1.21 web application. This weakness exists in the include/global.inc.php file where the application fails to properly validate user input before processing file inclusion requests. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the l parameter contains directory traversal sequences using .. (dot dot) notation, allowing attackers to manipulate the file inclusion mechanism and access arbitrary local files on the server. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category known as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')", which is a well-documented security weakness that has been consistently exploited across numerous web applications. The flaw enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially execute malicious code or retrieve sensitive information from the server's file system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides remote attackers with the capability to perform unauthorized file access and code execution on the affected web server. Attackers can leverage this weakness to include and execute local files that should normally be restricted, potentially gaining access to configuration files, database credentials, application source code, or other sensitive system information. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to navigate through the file system hierarchy and access files outside of the intended application directory structure. This can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potentially serve as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely without authentication, making it highly exploitable in real-world scenarios.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file inclusion operations. The application should enforce strict path validation to prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed, ensuring that all file paths are properly normalized and restricted to predefined directories. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation can limit the damage that could occur even if the vulnerability is exploited. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious directory traversal patterns in HTTP requests. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in web application development. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell" and T1566.001 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment", as attackers could potentially use the vulnerability to execute malicious code or deliver payloads through compromised web applications. System administrators should also ensure that the affected application is updated to the latest version or patched according to vendor security advisories to prevent exploitation attempts.