CVE-2008-5598 in PHPmyGallery
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in index.php in PHPmyGallery 1.51 gold allows remote attackers to list arbitrary directories via a .. (dot dot) in the group parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5598 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within PHPmyGallery version 1.51 gold, specifically affecting the index.php script. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data passed through the group parameter. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit the application's file handling routines by injecting directory traversal sequences using the .. (dot dot) notation, thereby enabling unauthorized access to arbitrary directories on the server filesystem.
This directory traversal vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw exists because the application does not adequately validate or sanitize the group parameter before using it in file system operations. When an attacker submits a malicious group parameter containing directory traversal sequences, the application processes these sequences without proper sanitization, allowing the attacker to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and access files or directories that should remain restricted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with the ability to enumerate directory structures, access sensitive files, and potentially execute arbitrary code depending on the server configuration and file permissions. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to access configuration files that might contain database credentials, application secrets, or other sensitive information. The vulnerability also enables directory listing capabilities that could expose the entire server file structure, potentially revealing additional attack vectors or sensitive data repositories. Furthermore, the remote nature of this exploit means that attackers do not require local system access or credentials to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) as attackers can use directory traversal to discover system information and potentially gain access to sensitive data. The vulnerability also relates to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) in scenarios where attackers can leverage the directory traversal to access files that might contain executable code or scripts. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms, applying the latest security patches from the vendor, and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious directory traversal attempts. Additionally, restricting file system access permissions and implementing proper access controls can significantly reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing security monitoring and logging to detect unusual directory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against common web application vulnerabilities.