CVE-2012-2919 in Chevereto
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Upload/engine.php in Chevereto 1.9.1 allows remote attackers to determine the existence of arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the v parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2919 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Chevereto image hosting platform version 1.9.1. This security weakness resides in the Upload/engine.php component where user-supplied input is inadequately validated before being processed. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the v parameter contains directory traversal sequences such as .. (dot dot) which allows attackers to manipulate file path resolution. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms within the file handling routines of Chevereto's upload engine. When a malicious user submits a request containing traversal sequences in the v parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before using it in file system operations. This allows the attacker to navigate beyond the intended directory structure and potentially access files that should remain restricted. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to determine the existence of arbitrary files on the server by leveraging the directory traversal mechanism, effectively providing information disclosure capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more severe attacks depending on the server configuration and file permissions. An attacker could use this vulnerability to probe for the existence of sensitive files such as configuration files, database credentials, or system files that might contain valuable information. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it accessible to any user with access to the vulnerable application. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers the discovery of file and directory permissions, and T1213, which addresses data from information repositories.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2919 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization measures within the Upload/engine.php component. The most effective approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects any input containing directory traversal sequences or special characters that could be used to manipulate file paths. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and privilege separation to ensure that the application cannot access files outside of its intended directory structure. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and patch management processes, as Chevereto 1.9.1 was vulnerable to this issue that was subsequently addressed in later versions. The implementation of web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection against similar traversal attacks, while comprehensive logging and monitoring should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts.