CVE-2008-5787 in Arab Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in mod.php in Arab Portal 2.1 on Windows allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the file parameter, in conjunction with a show action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-5787 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Arab Portal 2.1 content management system running on Windows environments. This security weakness resides in the mod.php script which processes file parameters without proper input validation, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to access arbitrary files on the server filesystem. The vulnerability specifically manifests when attackers craft malicious requests containing dot-dot-slash sequences in the file parameter while utilizing the show action, enabling them to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and retrieve sensitive files from the web server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input within the file parameter processing logic. When the mod.php script receives a request with a file parameter containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, it fails to properly validate or sanitize this input before using it to construct file paths. This allows attackers to manipulate the file access routines and traverse the directory structure to access files that should remain restricted. The vulnerability is particularly severe on Windows systems where the path traversal mechanisms differ from Unix-based systems, potentially expanding the attack surface and exploitation methods available to threat actors. The combination of the show action with the directory traversal sequences creates a perfect storm for unauthorized file access, as the show action likely triggers file reading operations that are not properly constrained by input validation checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially even database credentials or application source code. This can lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, and unauthorized access to confidential information. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire web application and underlying server infrastructure, as it allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve files that should be protected from unauthorized access. Organizations running Arab Portal 2.1 on Windows systems are particularly at risk since the Windows-specific path handling can make exploitation more straightforward and potentially more damaging than in other operating environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected software to implement proper input validation and sanitization of file parameters. The fix must ensure that all user-supplied input containing directory traversal sequences is rejected or properly normalized before any file operations are performed. Organizations should implement proper access controls and file permission settings to limit what files can be accessed even if traversal attempts are successful. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious traversal attempts, while regular security audits should verify that no other similar vulnerabilities exist within the application or related systems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 - Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory and follows patterns commonly seen in the ATT&CK framework under T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, demonstrating how path traversal vulnerabilities can be leveraged for reconnaissance and privilege escalation activities within compromised systems.