CVE-2010-2138 in ProMan
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in ProMan 0.1.1 and earlier allow remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via directory traversal sequences in the _SESSION[userLang] parameter to (1) elisttasks.php, (2) managepmanagers.php, (3) manageusers.php, (4) helpfunc.php, (5) managegroups.php, (6) manageprocess.php, and (7) manageusersgroups.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2138 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting ProMan version 0.1.1 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user input within multiple php scripts, specifically targeting the _SESSION[userLang] parameter. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to manipulate file inclusion mechanisms through carefully crafted directory traversal sequences, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution and unauthorized access to system resources. The affected files include core management scripts such as elisttasks.php, managepmanagers.php, manageusers.php, helpfunc.php, managegroups.php, manageprocess.php, and manageusersgroups.php, all of which process the userLang parameter without adequate input validation or sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the _SESSION[userLang] parameter, which is used to determine language files for application localization. When attackers provide directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ../../../, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs, allowing the system to interpret these sequences as legitimate file paths. This flaw maps directly to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as directory traversal or path traversal attacks. The vulnerability enables attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure, potentially leading to exposure of sensitive system files, configuration data, or even complete system compromise through arbitrary file inclusion.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2138 extends beyond simple file access, as it creates a pathway for remote code execution within the application environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to include malicious files from the local filesystem, potentially executing arbitrary code with the privileges of the web application. This capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically through PHP script inclusion. The vulnerability affects multiple management interfaces within ProMan, providing attackers with broad access to system functionality and potentially enabling privilege escalation or data exfiltration. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of unauthorized system access, data breaches, and potential complete compromise of their web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2138 should prioritize immediate patching of the ProMan application to version 0.1.2 or later, which addresses the directory traversal vulnerability. Until patching is complete, organizations should implement input validation measures including strict parameter sanitization and whitelisting of acceptable language values. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious directory traversal attempts, though these should not replace proper application-level fixes. The implementation of proper access controls and privilege separation within the application code is essential to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, comprehensive monitoring should be enabled to detect unusual file access patterns or unauthorized inclusion attempts that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews of similar applications to identify and remediate other potential directory traversal vulnerabilities in their codebase.