CVE-2008-6423 in passwiki
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in passwiki.php in PassWiki 0.9.16 RC3 and earlier allows remote attackers to read arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the site_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6423 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in PassWiki version 0.9.16 RC3 and earlier implementations. This weakness resides within the passwiki.php script which fails to properly validate user input parameters, specifically the site_id parameter that controls access to wiki sites. The vulnerability enables malicious actors to manipulate file paths through the use of directory traversal sequences such as .. (dot dot) characters, allowing unauthorized access to local system files that should remain protected. Such flaws typically arise from inadequate input sanitization and path validation mechanisms within web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a crafted site_id parameter containing directory traversal sequences to the passwiki.php endpoint. The application processes this input without proper validation, causing the system to interpret the traversal sequences and navigate to arbitrary directories on the server filesystem. This allows attackers to read sensitive local files including configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and potentially system files that could reveal critical information about the underlying infrastructure. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is a well-documented weakness in web application security.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using PassWiki implementations. Attackers could potentially extract database connection strings, application configuration files containing sensitive settings, or even access to administrative scripts that could lead to complete system compromise. The remote nature of this attack means that no local system access is required, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to potential privilege escalation and further attack vectors within the compromised environment, aligning with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under initial access and credential access phases.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate input validation and parameter sanitization within the passwiki.php script. Organizations should implement strict input filtering that rejects or removes directory traversal sequences from all user-supplied parameters before processing. The recommended approach includes implementing proper path validation that ensures all file access operations occur within designated safe directories, utilizing whitelist validation techniques where only predetermined valid values are accepted. Additionally, applying the principle of least privilege to web application directories and implementing proper access controls can significantly reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security auditing and code review processes should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other application components, with updates to PassWiki to version 0.9.16 RC4 or later which contains the necessary patches for this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific attack pattern.