CVE-2014-2863 in Commonspot Content Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple absolute path traversal vulnerabilities in PaperThin CommonSpot before 7.0.2 and 8.x before 8.0.3 allow remote attackers to have an unspecified impact via a full pathname in a parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2863 represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw affecting PaperThin CommonSpot content management systems across multiple versions. This security weakness manifests in the application's handling of user-supplied parameters that contain full pathnames, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate file system access patterns. The vulnerability exists within the core file access mechanisms of the CommonSpot platform, where insufficient input validation allows malicious actors to traverse directory structures beyond intended boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-provided parameters that are directly incorporated into file system operations. When the application processes requests containing full pathnames in parameters, it fails to properly validate or filter these inputs before using them in file access functions. This allows attackers to craft malicious requests that can access files outside of the intended application directory structure, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, information disclosure, or even system compromise. The vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 7.0.2 and 8.x versions prior to 8.0.3, indicating this was a persistent flaw across major releases of the platform.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2863 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to access sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially execute arbitrary code depending on the system configuration and file permissions. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing environments. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description reflects the broad range of potential consequences including but not limited to data breaches, system reconnaissance, and privilege escalation opportunities. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly within the privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass normal file system access controls and potentially access restricted areas of the file system. Organizations running affected versions of PaperThin CommonSpot should prioritize immediate remediation through the available patches and updates. Additional mitigations include implementing proper input validation, restricting file system access permissions, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious path traversal attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input validation and file system access patterns should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases.