CVE-2010-1652 in HCL
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the HelpCenter module in Help Center Live (HCL) 2.0.6 and 2.1.7 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files and possibly have unspecified other impact via a .. (dot dot) in the file parameter to module.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2025
The directory traversal vulnerability identified in CVE-2010-1652 affects Help Center Live versions 2.0.6 and 2.1.7 within the HelpCenter module, specifically exposing a critical security flaw in the module.php script. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the server by manipulating the file parameter through the use of .. (dot dot) sequences, which represents a classic path traversal attack vector. The flaw resides in the improper validation and sanitization of user-supplied input, allowing malicious actors to navigate beyond the intended directory structure and potentially access sensitive system files, configuration data, or user information. The vulnerability operates by accepting unfiltered user input directly into file path resolution mechanisms without adequate boundary checks or normalization procedures.
This security weakness falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-23, which deals with relative path traversal, where attackers exploit the ability to reference parent directories using sequences like ../ or ..\ to access files outside the intended directory scope. The attack vector operates through the HTTP GET or POST parameters where the file parameter is processed without proper input validation, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that bypass normal file access controls and directory restrictions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file reading capabilities and can potentially lead to complete system compromise depending on the server configuration and file permissions. Attackers may access database configuration files, application source code, user credentials, session data, or system configuration files that could provide further attack vectors. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest potential additional consequences including privilege escalation, denial of service, or information disclosure that could enable more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability affects web applications that rely on user input for file operations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where sensitive data is stored and accessed through web interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1652 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Help Center Live versions, as the vulnerability represents a critical security risk that can be exploited remotely without authentication. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent directory traversal attacks, including the removal of special characters from file paths, normalization of file paths, and implementation of strict access controls. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that web applications run with minimal required permissions and that file access is restricted to specific directories. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit access to vulnerable applications, while regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block malicious traversal attempts, while the ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use such vulnerabilities to gather intelligence or deliver payloads through compromised systems.