CVE-2008-4075 in D-iscussion Board
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in index.php in D-iscussion Board 3.01 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the topic parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4075 represents a classic directory traversal flaw within the D-iscussion Board 3.01 web application. This security weakness resides in the index.php file where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input passed through the topic parameter. The issue stems from inadequate input filtering mechanisms that allow malicious actors to manipulate file paths by injecting directory traversal sequences using the .. (dot dot) notation. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they enable unauthorized access to sensitive system files that should remain protected from external exposure.
This directory traversal vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw operates by exploiting the way the web application processes file requests without proper validation of the input parameters. When a user submits a topic parameter containing directory traversal sequences, the application processes these requests without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to navigate through the file system hierarchy and access files outside the intended directory structure. The vulnerability specifically affects the D-iscussion Board 3.01 application, which likely uses a simple file inclusion mechanism that does not properly validate the topic parameter before using it in file operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides remote attackers with the capability to read arbitrary files from the web server's file system. Attackers can potentially access sensitive configuration files, database credentials, user information, and other confidential data that should remain protected. This type of vulnerability enables information disclosure attacks that can lead to further compromise of the affected system. The remote nature of the attack means that an attacker does not need physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web applications. The attack vector is straightforward and can be executed through simple HTTP requests containing the malicious topic parameter values.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing with Malicious Attachment) where attackers might use the information gained from directory traversal to craft more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability also relates to T1213 (Data from Information Repositories) as it enables unauthorized access to stored data within the application's file system. Organizations using D-iscussion Board 3.01 should consider implementing input validation and sanitization measures that specifically address path traversal attacks. The recommended mitigations include implementing proper parameter validation, using allowlists for acceptable input values, implementing proper access controls, and employing secure coding practices that prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed as part of file operations. Additionally, the application should be updated to a newer version that addresses this vulnerability, as version 3.01 appears to be outdated and likely contains other unpatched security issues.