CVE-2008-6129 in moziloWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in print.php in moziloWiki 1.0.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the page parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6129 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the moziloWiki content management system version 1.0.1 and earlier. This security weakness exists in the print.php script which processes user input through the page parameter without adequate sanitization or validation. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate file paths and access arbitrary files on the server filesystem by exploiting the .. (dot dot) sequence commonly used to navigate up directory levels. Such directory traversal vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-22 as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')" and fall within the broader category of file system manipulation attacks that have been consistently documented across multiple security frameworks and threat models.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the lack of proper input validation and sanitization within the print.php script. When a user submits a request containing a page parameter with directory traversal sequences, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize this input before using it to construct file paths. This allows attackers to craft malicious requests that can bypass normal file access controls and retrieve sensitive files such as configuration files, database credentials, user information, or even system files that should remain inaccessible to unauthorized users. The vulnerability essentially enables attackers to perform unauthorized file system operations by manipulating the application's file handling logic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, potentially exposing sensitive system information and enabling further exploitation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can access not only web application configuration files but also potentially gain access to database connection strings, user credentials, and other sensitive data stored on the server. This exposure can lead to complete system compromise, data theft, and unauthorized access to restricted areas of the web application. The vulnerability operates at the file system level, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially provide access to the underlying operating system files and directories that should remain protected from web-based access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6129 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization techniques within the affected application. The most effective approach involves implementing strict input filtering that removes or encodes potentially dangerous characters including the .. sequence and other path traversal indicators. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and file system permissions to limit the damage that could occur even if the vulnerability is exploited. Additionally, the affected moziloWiki installations should be updated to versions that have addressed this vulnerability through proper code validation and sanitization measures. The mitigation approach aligns with standard security practices outlined in the ATT&CK framework under the technique of "Path Traversal" and should be considered part of comprehensive application security controls. System administrators should also implement monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect suspicious file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.