CVE-2008-3165 in cms
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in rss.php in fuzzylime (cms) 3.01a and earlier, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the p parameter, as demonstrated using content.php, a different vector than CVE-2007-4805.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3165 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the fuzzylime content management system version 3.01a and earlier. This weakness specifically affects the rss.php component and operates under conditions where the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters, creating an exploitable condition that enables attackers to manipulate file inclusion mechanisms. The flaw manifests when the p parameter in rss.php is manipulated using directory traversal sequences such as .. (dot dot) characters, allowing unauthorized access to arbitrary local files on the server filesystem.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern that aligns with CWE-22 Directory Traversal and CWE-94 Code Injection categories. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences in the p parameter, which then gets processed by the rss.php script without proper validation. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, the PHP environment does not automatically escape special characters, making the system more susceptible to injection attacks. The demonstration of this vulnerability using content.php as an attack vector shows that it operates through a different code path compared to CVE-2007-4805, indicating a distinct but related exploitation methodology. This particular variant allows for remote code execution through local file inclusion, as the attacker can reference and execute arbitrary local files that may contain malicious code or sensitive system information.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3165 extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass full system compromise potential. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain access to sensitive files, configuration data, database credentials, and potentially execute arbitrary code on the target system. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the server. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 Phishing, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code and potentially use the compromised system for further attacks. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the CMS is used to manage sensitive content or where the web server has elevated privileges, as it could lead to complete system compromise and data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3165 should focus on immediate patching of the fuzzylime CMS to version 3.01b or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. System administrators should also implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed by the application. The configuration of magic_quotes_gpc should be reviewed, though this setting is deprecated in modern PHP versions and should not be relied upon as the sole defense mechanism. Additional security controls include implementing proper file access controls, using secure coding practices that validate and sanitize all user inputs, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block directory traversal attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the web application stack. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security updates to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in legacy systems.