CVE-2008-7054 in ezContents
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in ezContents 2.0.3 allow remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via the (1) gsLanguage and (2) language_home parameters to modules/diary/showdiary.php; (3) admin_home, (4) gsLanguage, and (5) language_home parameters to modules/diary/showdiarydetail.php; (6) gsLanguage and (7) language_home parameters to modules/diary/submit_diary.php; (8) admin_home parameter to modules/news/news_summary.php; (9) nLink, (10) gsLanguage, and (11) language_home parameters to modules/news/inlinenews.php; and possibly other unspecified vectors in (12) diary/showeventlist.php, (13) gallery/showgallery.php, (14) reviews/showreviews.php, (15) gallery/showgallerydetails.php, (16) reviews/showreviewsdetails.php, (17) news/shownewsdetails.php, (18) gallery/submit_gallery.php, (19) guestbook/submit_guestbook.php, (20) reviews/submit_reviews.php, (21) news/submit_news.php, (22) diary/inlineeventlist.php, and (23) news/archivednews_summary.php in modules/, related to the lack of directory traversal protection in modules/moduleSec.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-7054 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting ezContents 2.0.3, a content management system that suffered from insufficient input validation across multiple modules. This vulnerability resides in the core file inclusion mechanism that processes user-supplied parameters without proper sanitization, allowing remote attackers to manipulate file paths and access arbitrary local files on the server. The flaw manifests across numerous PHP scripts within the modules directory, specifically targeting parameters that control language settings and administrative paths, creating a widespread attack surface that spans diary, news, gallery, and reviews modules. Such vulnerabilities fall under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as directory traversal or path traversal attacks.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves attackers manipulating HTTP parameters to prepend directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to file paths, effectively bypassing the intended directory restrictions. When the application processes these parameters in modules/moduleSec.php, it fails to validate or sanitize the input before using it in file inclusion operations, allowing the attacker to navigate to arbitrary locations within the server's filesystem. The impact extends beyond simple file reading to potentially enabling remote code execution, as attackers can include PHP files that contain malicious code, particularly when the application operates with elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1505.003, which covers server-side include attacks, and T1213.002, focusing on data from local system repositories.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-7054 is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to potentially access sensitive configuration files, database credentials, and other system files that should remain protected. When combined with the lack of proper input validation, this vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise, especially if attackers can access files containing database connection strings, administrator credentials, or application configuration details. The widespread nature of this vulnerability across multiple modules indicates a fundamental design flaw in the application's security architecture, where centralized input validation mechanisms were either missing or inadequately implemented. Organizations running ezContents 2.0.3 would face significant risk of data breaches, system infiltration, and potential service disruption, as the vulnerability affects core functionality modules that handle user-generated content, administrative operations, and system configuration data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-7054 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization across all user-supplied parameters that influence file paths. The most effective approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects any input containing directory traversal sequences or special characters that could manipulate file paths. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and privilege separation, ensuring that web applications operate with minimal necessary permissions and that sensitive files are properly protected through file system permissions. The application should utilize whitelisting approaches for valid language and module parameters, rejecting any input that does not match predefined acceptable values. Additionally, implementing proper error handling that does not reveal system path information or file structure details can help prevent information disclosure that attackers might use to refine their attacks. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications, as this class of vulnerability remains prevalent in legacy systems and poorly secured web applications. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping software updated, as ezContents 2.0.3 was likely vulnerable due to outdated security practices and lack of proper input validation mechanisms that modern applications would typically include.