CVE-2009-3534 in LionWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in index.php in LionWiki 3.0.3, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the page parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-3534 represents a classic directory traversal flaw affecting LionWiki version 3.0.3, specifically when the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the index.php script, which processes user-supplied page parameters without proper sanitization. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the absence of proper path validation when handling directory navigation sequences, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file access requests through the use of double dot sequences.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs at the application level where user input containing .. (dot dot) sequences is directly incorporated into file system operations without appropriate filtering or normalization. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, the application lacks the automatic escaping of special characters that would normally prevent such attacks from succeeding. This creates an exploitable condition where attackers can traverse the file system hierarchy and access files that should remain protected, potentially including configuration files, database credentials, or other sensitive system resources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to affected systems as it enables unauthorized information disclosure and potential system compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to read arbitrary files from the web server's file system, potentially accessing sensitive data such as database connection strings, application configuration files, or even system files that could provide additional attack vectors. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to potentially enabling further exploitation techniques including privilege escalation or lateral movement within the compromised environment.
The 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 attacks. This weakness falls under the broader category of input validation flaws that have been consistently identified as critical security concerns in web applications. The attack vector specifically maps to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 discovery technique, where adversaries attempt to gather information about the file system structure to identify potential targets for exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the LionWiki application to version 3.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this directory traversal issue. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation mechanisms that sanitize user-supplied parameters before processing, particularly those containing path-related sequences. The configuration should be reviewed to ensure magic_quotes_gpc is properly enabled or that alternative input sanitization methods are implemented. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and proper access controls should also be deployed to limit the attack surface and provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities.