CVE-2009-2229 in Kasseler
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in engine.php in Kasseler CMS 1.3.5 lite allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the file parameter during a download action, a different vector than CVE-2008-3087. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2229 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Kasseler CMS 1.3.5 lite content management system. This security weakness specifically affects the engine.php script and manifests during file download operations when the file parameter contains directory traversal sequences. The vulnerability operates through a straightforward yet dangerous mechanism where attackers can manipulate the file parameter to navigate through the server's file system hierarchy using the .. (dot dot) sequence. This allows unauthorized access to files that should remain protected within the application's directory structure, potentially exposing sensitive data including configuration files, database credentials, and other system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. This weakness occurs when an application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input that is used to construct file paths, allowing attackers to reference files outside the intended directory scope. The specific attack vector in this case involves the download functionality where the file parameter is directly incorporated into the file path without adequate sanitization or validation checks. This flaw creates a scenario where an attacker can traverse up the directory tree multiple times using the .. sequence to access files that are not meant to be publicly accessible.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-2229 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, potentially enabling attackers to gain significant system compromise capabilities. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to read sensitive configuration files that might contain database connection strings, administrative credentials, or cryptographic keys. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates through a legitimate download function, making it difficult to detect through normal security monitoring. Attackers could potentially access critical system files including .htaccess files, php.ini configurations, or other sensitive resources that could provide additional attack vectors or system information. This vulnerability also represents a significant risk to web application security as it demonstrates how seemingly routine file operations can become dangerous when proper input validation is absent.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's file handling processes. The most effective approach involves implementing proper path validation that prevents the use of directory traversal sequences in file parameters, utilizing allowlists of acceptable file paths rather than denylists that attempt to block malicious input. Additionally, the application should implement proper access controls and privilege separation to ensure that file operations occur within restricted directories. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block directory traversal attempts, while regular security audits should verify that all file handling functions properly validate user input. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards that emphasize the need for input validation, proper error handling, and least privilege access controls to prevent such critical security flaws from being exploited in production environments.