CVE-2018-20630 in Advance Crowdfunding Script
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Scripts Mall Advance Crowdfunding Script 2.0.3 has 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20630 affects PHP Scripts Mall Advance Crowdfunding Script version 2.0.3, presenting a critical directory traversal flaw that enables unauthorized access to sensitive system files. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper access controls within the script's file listing functionality, allowing attackers to bypass normal access restrictions and enumerate directory contents. The specific exploitation vector involves direct requests targeting the wp-content/uploads/2018/12 directory structure, which demonstrates how the vulnerability can be leveraged to gain unauthorized visibility into the application's file system hierarchy.
The technical implementation of this directory traversal vulnerability resides in the script's handling of user-supplied directory paths without proper sanitization or access control enforcement. When a user requests a directory listing, the application fails to validate the input parameters against a whitelist of allowed directories or implement proper path validation mechanisms. This weakness allows an attacker to manipulate the directory path parameter to traverse upward through the file system, potentially accessing sensitive files such as configuration files, database credentials, or other system resources that should remain protected from public access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture, where the principle of least privilege is violated by allowing unrestricted directory enumeration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical reconnaissance data that can be used for further exploitation. Successful exploitation can reveal the complete directory structure, potentially exposing sensitive files such as wp-config.php containing database credentials, backup files, or other configuration data that could lead to complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this information to plan more sophisticated attacks, including credential theft, privilege escalation, or even remote code execution if additional vulnerabilities exist within the application. The vulnerability also poses significant risks to data integrity and confidentiality, as unauthorized access to uploaded files may expose user data, campaign information, or financial records. This weakness can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1083, which describes discovering file and directory permissions, and T1213, which covers data from information repositories, making it a critical target for threat actors seeking to establish persistent access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and access control mechanisms throughout the application. The primary remediation involves implementing proper path validation that ensures all directory requests are restricted to predefined, safe directories within the application's intended scope. This can be achieved through whitelisting approaches that only allow access to specific directories or by implementing proper path normalization that prevents upward directory traversal attempts. Additionally, the application should enforce strict access controls that verify user permissions before allowing directory listings, ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive file structures. Organizations should also implement proper logging and monitoring to detect unusual directory access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security architecture weaknesses that require comprehensive remediation rather than isolated fixes. The remediation efforts should align with security best practices outlined in standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks to ensure comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities.