CVE-2018-17553 in Navigate CMS
Summary
by MITRE
An "Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type" issue with directory traversal in navigate_upload.php in Naviwebs Navigate CMS 2.8 allows authenticated attackers to achieve remote code execution via a POST request with engine=picnik and id=../../../navigate_info.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17553 represents a critical security flaw in Naviwebs Navigate CMS version 2.8 that combines multiple exploitation vectors to enable remote code execution. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and improper file handling mechanisms within the navigate_upload.php script, which processes file uploads through the picnik engine functionality. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that any user with valid credentials can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a directory traversal attack combined with unrestricted file upload capabilities. When an attacker submits a POST request containing engine=picnik and id=../../../navigate_info.php parameters, the application fails to properly validate the file path specified in the id parameter. This allows the attacker to traverse the directory structure and upload malicious files to critical system locations. The specific path ../../../navigate_info.php demonstrates the classic directory traversal pattern where multiple parent directory references attempt to move outside the intended upload directory. This flaw directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and CWE-434, which covers unrestricted upload of file with dangerous type.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Once successfully exploited, attackers can achieve complete system compromise through remote code execution, allowing them to install backdoors, steal sensitive data, or use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers do not require special privileges or advanced techniques to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly attractive to threat actors. The vulnerability enables attackers to upload malicious PHP files that can execute arbitrary commands, potentially leading to full system takeover and persistent access. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078.004 for valid accounts, as the exploitation requires only legitimate user credentials.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the Naviwebs Navigate CMS to version 2.9 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the directory traversal and file upload validation issues. Additionally, administrators should implement strict file type validation and sanitization for all upload operations, ensuring that only safe file extensions are accepted. The system should enforce proper input validation on all parameters, particularly those used in path construction. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect suspicious upload activities and anomalous file access patterns. Security measures including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to block directory traversal attempts and monitor for unusual POST request patterns targeting upload endpoints. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and vulnerability scans to identify similar issues in other applications and ensure proper access controls are in place to prevent unauthorized access to upload functionalities.