CVE-2016-9835 in Zikula
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in file "jcss.php" in Zikula 1.3.x before 1.3.11 and 1.4.x before 1.4.4 on Windows allows a remote attacker to launch a PHP object injection by uploading a serialized file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9835 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in the Zikula content management system affecting versions 1.3.x prior to 1.3.11 and 1.4.x prior to 1.4.4 on Windows platforms. This vulnerability resides within the jcss.php file which processes CSS file generation and management operations. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and path handling mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data during file upload operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious serialized PHP objects and uploading them to the server, subsequently triggering a PHP object injection attack through the vulnerable directory traversal mechanism.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves a multi-stage attack vector that begins with the attacker uploading a malicious file containing serialized PHP objects. The directory traversal component allows the attacker to manipulate file paths and bypass normal access controls, enabling the execution of arbitrary code on the target system. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-22, which specifically addresses directory traversal or path traversal issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for PHP code injection. The Windows-specific nature of this vulnerability suggests that the implementation leverages Windows path handling characteristics that differ from Unix-like systems, potentially exploiting platform-specific path resolution behaviors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise. Successful exploitation allows attackers to perform arbitrary file operations including reading sensitive system files, executing malicious code, and potentially establishing persistent backdoors. The PHP object injection aspect introduces additional complexity as serialized objects can contain malicious payloads that execute upon deserialization, creating a powerful attack surface. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that handle user-uploaded content without proper sanitization, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to gain unauthorized access to web servers hosting Zikula applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9835 require immediate patching of affected Zikula installations to versions 1.3.11 or 1.4.4, which contain the necessary fixes for the directory traversal and object injection vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement robust input validation mechanisms that strictly filter and sanitize all user-supplied data, particularly file uploads and path parameters. The security configuration should include disabling unnecessary file upload capabilities, implementing strict file type validation, and employing proper access controls that prevent directory traversal attacks. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious requests that attempt to exploit path traversal vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack, as this type of vulnerability often indicates broader security implementation gaps that require comprehensive remediation across the entire application architecture.