CVE-2008-5771 in Phpweather
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in test.php in PHP Weather 2.2.2 allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via directory traversal sequences in the language parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The CVE-2008-5771 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw in the PHP Weather 2.2.2 web application that exposes remote attackers to arbitrary file execution capabilities. This vulnerability specifically affects the test.php script within the weather application's codebase, where insufficient input validation allows malicious actors to manipulate the language parameter through directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\.. This flaw enables attackers to navigate the file system and access sensitive local files that should remain protected from external access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper sanitization of user-supplied input within the language parameter handling mechanism. When the application processes the language parameter without adequate validation or filtering, it directly incorporates user-provided directory traversal sequences into file inclusion operations. This creates an exploitable path traversal condition that allows attackers to bypass normal file access controls and potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category for Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is a fundamental security weakness in input validation and file access controls.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to web application security and system integrity. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to access configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other sensitive information stored on the server. The ability to execute arbitrary local files means that attackers could potentially gain complete control over the affected system, leading to data breaches, service disruption, or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be exploited through simple HTTP requests, making it highly accessible to attackers.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary remediation involves implementing strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file inclusion operations. The application should enforce whitelisting mechanisms that only permit predefined, safe language values rather than accepting arbitrary user input. Additionally, proper file access controls and privilege separation should be implemented to limit the application's ability to access sensitive system files. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers may use this flaw as an initial access vector to establish persistent presence on compromised systems. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other applications and ensure proper input validation mechanisms are in place across all system components.