CVE-2014-8704 in Wonder
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in index.php in Wonder CMS 2014 allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via a crafted theme.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8704 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Wonder CMS 2014's index.php script that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary local file inclusion attacks. This weakness stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict user-supplied data when processing theme parameters. The vulnerability specifically affects the file inclusion functionality that processes theme names without adequate security controls, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the application's file access patterns through carefully crafted requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages standard directory traversal techniques where attackers can manipulate the theme parameter to navigate outside the intended directory structure and access restricted files on the server. This flaw operates at the application level and demonstrates poor input validation practices that align with CWE-22, which categorizes directory traversal vulnerabilities as a fundamental security weakness in software applications. The vulnerability enables attackers to include local files that may contain malicious code or sensitive information, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations using Wonder CMS 2014 as it allows remote code execution capabilities without requiring authentication. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary commands on the affected server, potentially gaining full administrative control over the web application and underlying system. The impact extends beyond simple file access as the vulnerability can be exploited to read system configuration files, database credentials, or other sensitive data that may be stored locally on the server. This capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers execution through command and scripting interpreters.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous in production environments. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability exists due to inadequate parameter validation and insufficient access controls within the application's file handling mechanisms. Organizations utilizing Wonder CMS 2014 should immediately implement mitigations including input sanitization, proper file access controls, and application updates to address this directory traversal weakness. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper security controls around file inclusion functions and demonstrates how insufficient validation can lead to severe security consequences in web applications.