CVE-2008-6786 in geekigeeki
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in geekigeeki.py in GeekiGeeki before 3.0 allow remote attackers to read arbitrary files via directory traversal sequences in a pagename argument in the (1) handle_edit and (2) handle_raw functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6786 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in the GeekiGeeki web application software version 2.9 and earlier. This vulnerability exists within the geekigeeki.py script which serves as the core processing component for the GeekiGeeki wiki system. The flaw manifests in two specific functions: handle_edit and handle_raw, both of which fail to properly validate or sanitize user input parameters. The vulnerability specifically targets the pagename argument which is used to determine which page content should be processed or displayed within the application's interface.
The technical implementation of this directory traversal vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web application's request processing pipeline. When attackers submit maliciously crafted directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ in the pagename parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs before using them to construct file paths. This allows the application to interpret these sequences as legitimate navigation commands, resulting in unauthorized access to files outside the intended directory structure. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through HTTP requests without requiring authentication or special privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable complete system compromise. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to access sensitive files including configuration files, database credentials, user information, and potentially system files that should remain protected. The implications are particularly severe for web applications that store sensitive data or have administrative access controls, as this vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to restricted resources. The vulnerability affects all versions prior to 3.0, indicating a long-standing flaw that remained unpatched for an extended period.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1083, File and Directory Discovery, as attackers can use such flaws to enumerate system resources. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of T1566, Phishing, when attackers leverage the information disclosure capabilities to gather intelligence for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, proper path normalization, and access control restrictions to prevent exploitation. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to version 3.0 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms.