CVE-2008-6183 in My PHP Indexer
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in index.php in My PHP Indexer 1.0 allow remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the (1) d and (2) f parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6183 affects My PHP Indexer version 1.0 and represents a classic directory traversal flaw that enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected system. This issue stems from insufficient input validation in the index.php script where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters before using them in file operations. The vulnerability specifically manifests in two distinct parameter fields designated as 'd' and 'f', both of which accept directory and file path components respectively, creating opportunities for malicious actors to navigate outside the intended directory structure through the use of directory traversal sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as directory traversal or path traversal attacks. When attackers supply sequences containing .. (dot dot) characters in either the 'd' or 'f' parameters, the application processes these inputs without adequate validation, allowing them to traverse up the directory hierarchy and access files that should remain restricted. This flaw operates at the core of input sanitization failures where the application directly incorporates user-provided data into file system operations without proper boundary checks or canonicalization procedures.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially application source code. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring local system access or authentication credentials. Attackers could leverage this weakness to retrieve database connection details, application configuration files, user credentials stored in plain text, or even system configuration files that might contain additional attack vectors or sensitive information about the underlying system architecture.
The exploitation of CVE-2008-6183 demonstrates characteristics consistent with techniques outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 - File and Directory Discovery tactic, where adversaries seek to identify file systems and locate sensitive information. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in input validation and access control mechanisms that could potentially be combined with other exploits to escalate privileges or gain deeper system access. The vulnerability's persistence in older software versions highlights the critical importance of regular security assessments and timely patch management to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization procedures within the application code, specifically ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are thoroughly checked against allowed character sets and path patterns. Organizations should implement directory traversal prevention measures such as canonicalizing all file paths and restricting access to sensitive directories through proper access control lists and file permissions. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and implementing proper logging and monitoring can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The recommended remediation includes updating to a patched version of My PHP Indexer or implementing strict input validation that prevents any occurrence of .. sequences in file path parameters, thereby eliminating the attack vector entirely.