CVE-2011-4948 in EGroupware Enterprise Line
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in admin/remote.php in EGroupware Enterprise Line (EPL) before 11.1.20110804-1 and EGroupware Community Edition before 1.8.001.20110805 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a ..%2f (encoded dot dot slash) in the type parameter.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4948 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the EGroupware Enterprise Line and Community Edition platforms. This security weakness resides in the admin/remote.php component and affects versions prior to specific release points including EPL 11.1.20110804-1 and EGroupware Community Edition 1.8.001.20110805. The flaw enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected system through manipulation of the type parameter using encoded dot dot slash sequences. This directory traversal vulnerability allows unauthorized access to sensitive system files that should remain protected from external inspection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the remote.php administrative script. When processing user-supplied input through the type parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the incoming data before using it to construct file paths. The specific exploitation technique involves encoding the traditional directory traversal sequence using URL encoding where ..%2f represents the encoded form of ../. This allows attackers to navigate upward through the directory structure beyond the intended file access boundaries. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any remote attacker.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly beyond simple information disclosure. Attackers can potentially access configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other sensitive data that may contain authentication tokens, encryption keys, or system-specific information. The ability to read arbitrary files creates a foundation for further exploitation including privilege escalation, system compromise, and data exfiltration. Organizations using affected EGroupware versions face substantial risk of unauthorized access to their collaborative software environment, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of the system as it allows unauthorized file access that could expose sensitive organizational data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4948 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the recommended versions or newer releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent directory traversal attacks, particularly within administrative interfaces. The implementation of proper access controls and least privilege principles can help limit the damage if exploitation occurs. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file access patterns and attempts to traverse directory structures. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory and maps to ATT&CK technique T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, highlighting the reconnaissance aspect of directory traversal attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications within the organization's infrastructure.