CVE-2013-7097 in eduTrac
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in 7 Media Web Solutions eduTrac before 1.1.2 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the showmask parameter to installer/overview.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7097 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the 7 Media Web Solutions eduTrac software version 1.1.1 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the installer/overview.php script where the showmask parameter fails to properly validate or sanitize user input, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate file access requests. The flaw enables remote attackers to navigate through the file system hierarchy by exploiting the .. (dot dot) sequence commonly used to traverse directories in Unix-like and Windows operating systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows unauthorized access to arbitrary files on the server, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data, source code, or other critical system information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. This weakness occurs when applications fail to properly validate user-supplied input that is used to construct file paths, allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls and gain access to files outside the intended directory structure. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically within the web application's file handling mechanisms, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or extract sensitive information from the system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations utilizing eduTrac software, as remote attackers can exploit it without requiring authentication or specialized privileges. The impact extends beyond simple file access, potentially allowing attackers to read system configuration files, database credentials, application source code, or other sensitive data that could lead to further compromise of the system. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications. Additionally, the lack of input validation in the showmask parameter creates a persistent security gap that could be leveraged in combination with other vulnerabilities to achieve more extensive system compromise.
The remediation for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization measures within the eduTrac application. Organizations should upgrade to version 1.1.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this directory traversal vulnerability. The fix should implement proper parameter validation that rejects or sanitizes input containing directory traversal sequences such as .. or %2e%2e. Security measures should include implementing a whitelist approach for file access, where only explicitly allowed files can be accessed through the application. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that the web application runs with minimal necessary permissions and that file system access is restricted to only required directories. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers discovering file and directory permissions, as attackers can use such vulnerabilities to map and access unauthorized system resources.