CVE-2008-5204 in PowerAward
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in PowerAward 1.1.0 RC1, when register_globals is enabled, allow remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via directory traversal sequences in the lang parameter to (1) agb.php, (2) angemeldet.php, (3) anmelden.php, (4) charts.php, (5) external_vote.php, (6) guestbook.php, (7) impressum.php, (8) index.php, (9) rss-reader.php, (10) statistic.php, (11) teilnehmer.php, (12) topsites.php, (13) votecode.php, (14) voting.php, and (15) winner.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5204 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting PowerAward version 1.1.0 RC1 when the PHP configuration parameter register_globals is enabled. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, specifically the lang parameter, across multiple script files within the application. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate file inclusion mechanisms by exploiting directory traversal sequences, effectively bypassing normal access controls and potentially executing arbitrary local code on the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the dangerous combination of register_globals enabled and improper parameter validation. When register_globals is active, user input becomes automatically available as global variables, creating an attack surface where maliciously crafted paths can be injected directly into the application's execution flow. The affected files span across the application's core functionality including user authentication pages, statistical displays, voting systems, and content management interfaces. Each of these scripts accepts the lang parameter without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to traverse directory structures and include local files that should remain protected.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to system integrity and confidentiality. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access sensitive files such as configuration databases, user credentials, application source code, and potentially system files. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to include arbitrary code execution capabilities when combined with other vulnerabilities or when attackers can upload malicious files to the server. The attack vector requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely by anyone with access to the vulnerable web application.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Directory Traversal and CWE-94 Code Injection categories, representing a classic example of insecure file handling combined with dangerous PHP configuration settings. According to ATT&CK framework, this maps to T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell and T1566.001 Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers could use this vulnerability to establish persistent access or deploy additional malicious payloads. The attack chain typically involves crafting malicious directory traversal sequences such as ../../../../../etc/passwd or similar patterns that bypass normal file access controls and lead to unauthorized file inclusion.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate configuration changes and code-level fixes. The most critical immediate action involves disabling register_globals in the PHP configuration, as this parameter fundamentally undermines security by automatically exposing user input as global variables. Additionally, all affected scripts must implement strict input validation and sanitization for the lang parameter, utilizing whitelisting approaches that only permit known, safe language identifiers. Implementing proper path validation and using secure file inclusion methods such as include_once() with validated paths rather than dynamic variable inclusion will prevent exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious directory traversal patterns and establish regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities across their software portfolio.