CVE-2013-3514 in OpenX
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in OpenX before 2.8.10 revision 82710 allow remote administrators to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the group parameter to (1) plugin-preferences.php or (2) plugin-settings.php in www/admin, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-7376. NOTE: this can be leveraged using CSRF to allow remote unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
The CVE-2013-3514 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw in OpenX versions prior to 2.8.10 revision 82710, specifically affecting the administrative interfaces located at www/admin/plugin-preferences.php and www/admin/plugin-settings.php. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of the group parameter, which permits attackers to manipulate file paths through the use of .. (dot dot) sequences. The flaw allows remote administrators to access arbitrary files on the server filesystem, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data, user credentials, and other confidential information that should remain protected within the application's restricted directories.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the group parameter in the affected PHP scripts, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before using it in file system operations. When a malicious user submits a request containing directory traversal sequences in the group parameter, the application processes these sequences without proper restrictions, leading to unauthorized file access. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-22 as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')" and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation and access control mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by its potential to be leveraged through Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks, allowing unauthenticated attackers to exploit the flaw and read arbitrary files from the server.
The operational implications of CVE-2013-3514 are severe, as it provides attackers with the ability to access sensitive files that may contain database connection strings, configuration parameters, application secrets, and potentially user authentication details. This could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to the underlying infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework places it within the Privilege Escalation and Credential Access domains, specifically mapping to techniques such as T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing. The ability for unauthenticated attackers to leverage this vulnerability through CSRF means that the attack surface extends beyond just administrative users, making the system particularly vulnerable to automated exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3514 should focus on immediate patching to OpenX version 2.8.10 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for input validation and path traversal protection. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization and validation measures, including strict parameter validation and the use of allowlists for acceptable input values. Additionally, access controls should be strengthened to prevent unauthorized administrative access, and the principle of least privilege should be enforced for all administrative interfaces. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications and systems, while implementing web application firewalls to help detect and prevent directory traversal attempts in real-time scenarios.