CVE-2008-5965 in LokiCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in index.php in LokiCMS 0.3.4 and earlier, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to check for the existence of arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the page parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5965 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in LokiCMS version 0.3.4 and earlier installations. This weakness specifically affects systems where the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, creating an exploitable condition that enables remote attackers to manipulate file access patterns through crafted input parameters. The vulnerability resides within the index.php script which processes user-supplied page parameters without adequate input validation or sanitization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a malicious page parameter containing directory traversal sequences such as .. (dot dot) in the request. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, the application fails to properly sanitize user input before using it in file system operations. This allows attackers to navigate through the file system hierarchy and check for the existence of arbitrary files on the server. The flaw stems from improper input validation and insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data, directly correlating to CWE-22 which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to affected systems as it enables attackers to perform reconnaissance activities by checking file existence without necessarily gaining direct access to file contents. Attackers can leverage this weakness to identify sensitive files, configuration data, or system artifacts that might reveal additional attack vectors or system internals. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple file enumeration, as it can potentially lead to more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation depending on the system configuration and file permissions. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 which describes discovering file and directory permissions, and T1595 which covers reconnaissance through directory traversal attacks.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical skill and can be automated using standard web application penetration testing tools. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed remotely without authentication, making it a preferred target for automated scanning tools and malicious actors seeking to identify vulnerable systems. Organizations running LokiCMS versions 0.3.4 or earlier without proper input sanitization measures are at risk of having their file system structures exposed and potentially compromised. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental security weakness in input validation practices and highlights the critical importance of proper parameter sanitization in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to a patched version of LokiCMS, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures, and enabling magic_quotes_gpc or similar protection mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls, input filtering rules, and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited. Additionally, organizations should establish secure coding practices that emphasize input validation, output encoding, and proper file system access controls to prevent unauthorized file access patterns. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all user-supplied parameters are properly validated before being processed by the application's file system operations.