CVE-2018-20628 in Charity Foundation Script
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Scripts Mall Charity Foundation Script 1 through 3 allows directory traversal via a direct request for a listing of an uploads directory such as the wp-content/uploads/2018/12 directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
This vulnerability exists within the PHP Scripts Mall Charity Foundation Script versions 1 through 3, representing a critical directory traversal flaw that enables unauthorized access to sensitive system directories. The vulnerability specifically manifests when a direct request is made for directory listings within the wp-content/uploads/2018/12 path structure, allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially gain visibility into restricted file systems. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The security implications are severe as attackers can exploit this weakness to access not only uploaded files but potentially sensitive configuration files, user data, or even system-level information that should remain protected.
The technical execution of this vulnerability relies on the application's insufficient input validation and improper sanitization of user-supplied paths. When the script processes directory listing requests, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the input parameters that specify which directory to enumerate. This allows an attacker to manipulate the request parameters to navigate to arbitrary directories within the web server's file system. The vulnerability specifically targets WordPress-based installations where the wp-content/uploads directory structure is commonly used for storing media files, and the year/month organization pattern creates predictable paths that can be exploited. This weakness represents a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege, where the application should only allow access to directories explicitly permitted by its configuration and user permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for further exploitation within the compromised environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can enumerate the entire uploads directory structure, potentially discovering sensitive files, backup archives, or configuration files that may contain database credentials, API keys, or other confidential information. This reconnaissance capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which describes the discovery of system information through directory listing operations. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to identify other potential attack vectors within the system, as they can discover the presence of other sensitive files or directories that may not be directly exposed to normal user access.
Organizations utilizing the affected PHP Scripts Mall Charity Foundation Script versions should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all directory traversal requests, ensuring that user-supplied paths are strictly validated against a whitelist of allowed directories. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and restricting the web server's ability to traverse directories outside of the intended application scope is essential. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that the web application only has access to necessary directories and cannot traverse to system-level or sensitive areas. Regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping third-party scripts and plugins updated, as outdated software often contains known vulnerabilities that can be exploited by threat actors. The remediation approach should include implementing proper error handling that prevents detailed system information from being exposed to unauthorized users, as well as establishing monitoring mechanisms to detect unusual directory traversal attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts.