CVE-2013-7138 in Horizon Quick Content Management System
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in lib/functions/d-load.php in Horizon Quick Content Management System (QCMS) 4.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the start parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7138 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Horizon Quick Content Management System version 4.0 and earlier. This issue resides in the lib/functions/d-load.php component of the CMS, where improper input validation allows malicious actors to manipulate file access patterns through crafted requests. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the start parameter contains directory traversal sequences using the .. (dot dot) notation, enabling unauthorized file system access beyond the intended boundaries.
This directory traversal vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which classifies improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters, particularly within the file loading mechanism of the CMS. When the application processes the start parameter without proper validation, it fails to restrict file access to authorized directories, allowing attackers to navigate the file system hierarchy and potentially access sensitive files such as configuration data, database credentials, or system files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file reading capabilities, as it provides attackers with the potential to escalate their privileges and gain deeper system access. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to retrieve critical system files, including but not limited to database connection strings, administrative login credentials, or application configuration files that may contain sensitive information. The attack vector requires no special privileges and can be executed through standard web browser interactions, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers the discovery of system information through directory listing and file enumeration activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-7138 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Horizon QCMS versions, as the vendor has likely released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures, particularly for all parameters that influence file system operations. The recommended approach involves implementing strict path validation that ensures all file access requests remain within predetermined directories, using techniques such as whitelisting allowed file paths or implementing proper canonicalization of file paths. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting the web application's file system permissions, ensuring that the application cannot access files outside of its designated content directories. Regular security auditing and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system architecture, while also implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts.