CVE-2011-10009 in S40
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2025
S40 CMS v0.4.2 contains a path traversal vulnerability in its index.php page handler. The p parameter is not properly sanitized, allowing attackers to traverse the file system and access arbitrary files outside the web root. This can be exploited remotely without authentication by appending traversal sequences and a null byte to bypass file extension checks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-10009 affects S40 CMS version 0.4.2 and represents a critical path traversal flaw that fundamentally compromises the application's file system security boundaries. This vulnerability exists within the index.php page handler where the p parameter undergoes insufficient input validation and sanitization. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate file path references through direct parameter injection, creating a direct pathway to access files outside the designated web root directory structure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately filter or sanitize user-supplied data before processing. When the p parameter is passed to the application without proper sanitization, attackers can leverage directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate upward through the file system hierarchy. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous when combined with null byte injection techniques that can bypass file extension checks and potentially circumvent security measures designed to restrict file access based on extensions.
This path traversal vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The attack vector requires no authentication credentials and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially allow attackers to access sensitive configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other critical system resources that should remain protected within the web root.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to the underlying file system and potentially sensitive data stored within the application's directory structure. Successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise through access to application configuration files, database connection strings, user credentials, and potentially system-level files. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that attackers can exploit it from any location without requiring physical access or prior authentication, making it a high-priority security concern for any organization using the affected S40 CMS version.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization measures that properly filter all user-supplied parameters before processing. The recommended approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects or removes any directory traversal sequences from input parameters, particularly those used to determine file paths. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and file system permissions that limit the application's ability to access files outside the designated web root. Additionally, the application should employ proper output encoding and path normalization techniques to ensure that user input cannot be interpreted as file system navigation commands. This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing), as it enables attackers to discover and access sensitive files that may contain credentials or other valuable information for further exploitation.