CVE-2017-10907 in OneThird CMS Show Off
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in OneThird CMS Show Off v1.85 and earlier. Show Off v1.85 en and earlier allows an attacker to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2019
The directory traversal vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10907 affects OneThird CMS Show Off version 1.85 and earlier implementations, representing a critical security flaw that enables unauthorized file access through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw allows malicious actors to bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive files from the server's file system that should otherwise remain protected.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the CMS's file handling mechanisms, where user-supplied parameters are not properly sanitized before being used in file system operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences such as "../" or similar path manipulation techniques to navigate outside the intended directory boundaries. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially allow attackers to access configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other sensitive data that may lead to further exploitation opportunities.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using the affected CMS version, as it can result in complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests multiple potential entry points within the application's codebase where input validation is insufficient, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it may be exploitable through various means including web forms, API endpoints, or direct URL manipulation. Security assessments indicate that this flaw could be leveraged to escalate privileges, extract sensitive information, or even facilitate remote code execution depending on the server configuration and file permissions. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it affects the core file handling functionality of the CMS, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools commonly found in the attacker's toolkit.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10907 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected CMS version to the latest available release that addresses the directory traversal flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures, including the use of allowlists for acceptable file paths and proper encoding of user-supplied data. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Security configurations should enforce strict file access controls and implement the principle of least privilege to minimize potential damage from successful attacks. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use this flaw to gather intelligence before launching more sophisticated attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect anomalous file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.