CVE-2012-2939 in Travelon Express
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unrestricted file upload vulnerabilities in Travelon Express 6.2.2 allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code by uploading a file with an executable extension using (1) airline-edit.php, (2) hotel-image-add.php, or (3) hotel-add.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2025
The CVE-2012-2939 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Travelon Express version 6.2.2 that exposes multiple unrestricted file upload mechanisms across three distinct administrative endpoints. This vulnerability falls under the category of unrestricted file upload as defined by CWE-434, which occurs when applications allow users to upload files without proper validation of file types or content, creating opportunities for malicious file execution. The affected files airline-edit.php, hotel-image-add.php, and hotel-add.php all contain upload functionality that fails to properly validate file extensions or content, allowing authenticated users to bypass security controls and upload potentially malicious executables.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the file upload mechanisms of the Travelon Express application. When authenticated users upload files through these endpoints, the application does not properly verify the file extension or content type against a whitelist of acceptable formats. This allows attackers to upload files with executable extensions such as .php, .asp, .jsp, or other server-side script extensions that can be executed directly on the web server. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker who has obtained legitimate user credentials can exploit this weakness to gain remote code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2939 is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with direct control over the affected web server through remote code execution. Once an attacker successfully uploads a malicious file, they can execute arbitrary code on the server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. This vulnerability can be exploited to perform actions such as accessing sensitive customer data, modifying hotel information, altering airline schedules, or using the compromised server as a platform for further attacks against other systems within the network. The attack surface is particularly dangerous because it affects core business functions including airline management and hotel operations, which typically contain sensitive operational data.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents an exploitation of a web application vulnerability that allows for remote code execution. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts, since it requires only authenticated access to exploit the unrestricted file upload functionality. Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense including input validation, file type restrictions, and proper access controls to mitigate this risk. The recommended mitigations include implementing strict file type validation using whitelisting approaches, storing uploaded files outside the web root directory, implementing proper file naming conventions, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious file upload activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.