CVE-2011-0518 in Fraise
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in core/lib/router.php in LotusCMS Fraise 3.0, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via the system parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0518 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the LotusCMS Fraise 3.0 content management system. This weakness exists in the core/lib/router.php file and specifically targets the system parameter handling within the index.php script. The vulnerability's exploitation requires that the PHP configuration has magic_quotes_gpc disabled, which removes the automatic escaping of special characters that would otherwise prevent malicious input from being interpreted as command sequences. This configuration oversight creates a dangerous attack surface where remote adversaries can manipulate file inclusion mechanisms to access arbitrary local files on the server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the router component of the CMS. When the system parameter is passed through index.php to router.php, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before using it in file inclusion operations. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that can traverse directory structures and access files that should remain protected. The vulnerability operates under CWE-22, which classifies directory traversal attacks as a fundamental weakness in input validation that enables unauthorized access to system resources. The flaw essentially permits attackers to bypass normal file access controls and potentially execute arbitrary code by including local files that contain malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass full system compromise potential. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to access sensitive configuration files, database credentials, user authentication data, and other critical system components that are stored locally on the server. The ability to execute arbitrary local files through file inclusion mechanisms creates a pathway for attackers to escalate privileges, establish persistent backdoors, or deploy additional malware within the compromised environment. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1505.003, which describes the use of web shell deployment through file inclusion vulnerabilities, and represents a significant risk to organizations using LotusCMS Fraise 3.0 without proper security hardening measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0518 require immediate implementation of multiple defensive layers to protect against exploitation. The most critical immediate action involves ensuring that magic_quotes_gpc is enabled in the PHP configuration, though this solution is considered deprecated and insufficient for modern security requirements. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization techniques that specifically filter or reject directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ in all user-supplied parameters. The recommended approach includes implementing a whitelist-based validation system that only accepts predetermined, safe values for the system parameter, thereby preventing any malicious input from reaching the file inclusion logic. Additionally, proper file access controls and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the damage that can be caused even if exploitation occurs. Regular security audits and application code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system, as this weakness represents a pattern that commonly appears in legacy CMS implementations and requires comprehensive remediation across all file inclusion mechanisms.