CVE-2008-3128 in Pivot
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in search.php in Pivot 1.40.5 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the t parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3128 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Pivot content management system version 1.40.5. This security weakness resides in the search.php script which fails to properly validate user input parameters, specifically the t parameter that handles search terms. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the server by exploiting the lack of proper input sanitization mechanisms. When an attacker crafts a malicious request containing directory traversal sequences such as ..%2F or similar encoded variations in the t parameter, the application processes these inputs without adequate validation, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive files that should remain protected.
This directory traversal vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and sanitization that violates fundamental security principles for web application development. The attack vector operates through HTTP requests where the vulnerable parameter is passed directly to file system operations without proper filtering or encoding checks. This vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers File and Directory Discovery, as it enables adversaries to enumerate and access files that should be restricted to authorized users only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Remote attackers can potentially access sensitive system files, configuration files, database credentials, source code repositories, and other confidential data stored on the server. The vulnerability could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to user accounts. In a production environment, this flaw could result in significant financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity aspects of the CIA triad, as it allows unauthorized information disclosure and potential modification of system files through file access and manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3128 should include immediate patching of the Pivot application to version 1.40.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for input validation. Administrators should implement proper input sanitization by filtering or escaping special characters such as dots and forward slashes in user-provided parameters. Web application firewalls can be configured to detect and block suspicious patterns in URL parameters that match directory traversal attempts. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls, restricting file system permissions, and conducting regular security audits of web applications can help prevent exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing proper logging and monitoring mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all systems are regularly updated with the latest security patches. The vulnerability underscores the importance of input validation and output encoding practices as fundamental defensive measures against path traversal attacks in web applications.