CVE-2009-3123 in Wap-Motor
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in gallery/gallery.php in Wap-Motor before 18.1 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the image parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3123 represents a classic directory traversal flaw within the Wap-Motor web application framework, specifically affecting the gallery/gallery.php component in versions prior to 18.1. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing file requests. The vulnerability operates by allowing remote attackers to manipulate the image parameter through the use of directory traversal sequences such as .. which enables them to navigate outside the intended directory structure and access files that should remain restricted. The flaw exists at the application layer where user input directly influences file system operations without proper sanitization or access control measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which categorizes it as a Directory Traversal or Path Traversal attack. This weakness permits attackers to access files outside the web root directory by manipulating path references through sequences like ../ or ..\ in file access parameters. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can potentially expose sensitive system files, configuration data, and application source code that may contain database credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential information. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the underlying file system, potentially leading to complete system compromise through the exploitation of additional vulnerabilities discovered during reconnaissance activities.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses any remote user who can submit requests to the gallery.php endpoint with a crafted image parameter containing directory traversal sequences. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1083, which describes the discovery of files and directories, and T1566, which covers the initial access phase of cyber operations. The exploitation typically requires no specialized tools beyond standard web request utilities and can be automated through various scripting approaches. Organizations using affected versions of Wap-Motor face significant risk as this vulnerability can be easily discovered through automated scanning tools and does not require any privileged access or complex attack chains to exploit effectively.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3123 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Wap-Motor software to version 18.1 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input sanitization at the application level by validating and filtering all user-supplied data before processing file requests. The implementation of a whitelist-based approach for file access, where only predefined valid file paths are permitted, provides an effective defense mechanism against directory traversal attacks. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can also be deployed to detect and block suspicious path traversal patterns in HTTP requests. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while access controls should be implemented to limit the privileges of web application processes and reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.