CVE-2018-20638 in Chartered Accountant : Auditor Website
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Scripts Mall Chartered Accountant : Auditor Website 2.0.1 has directory traversal via a direct request for a listing of an image directory such as an assets/ directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20638 affects PHP Scripts Mall Chartered Accountant : Auditor Website version 2.0.1, representing a critical directory traversal flaw that enables unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the web application's file handling mechanisms, specifically when processing direct requests for image directory listings. The flaw allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve files from directories outside the intended web root, potentially exposing confidential data, configuration files, or system resources.
Directory traversal vulnerabilities fall under CWE-22, which classifies improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. These attacks exploit insufficient input validation in applications that handle file operations, allowing malicious users to access files and directories outside the intended scope. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input that is used to construct file paths, enabling attackers to manipulate the requested resource through the use of directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a pathway for potential attackers to escalate their privileges and access sensitive components of the web application. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to access not only image directories but potentially database configuration files, application source code, or other sensitive system resources stored within the server's file system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates through direct requests for image directory listings, suggesting that the web application's file access controls are fundamentally flawed and not properly implementing access restrictions.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 - File and Directory Discovery tactic, where adversaries seek to identify files and directories on compromised systems. The vulnerability also maps to T1213 - Data from Information Repositories, as it provides access to potentially sensitive data repositories that may contain personal information, financial records, or other confidential data typically stored within the application's directory structure. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this vulnerability can be exploited through simple HTTP requests without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the web application is accessible to unauthenticated users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20638 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The primary remediation involves ensuring that all user-supplied input used in file path construction is properly validated and sanitized to prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed. This includes implementing strict path validation that verifies requested paths are within the intended directory boundaries, utilizing whitelisting approaches for acceptable file paths, and implementing proper access controls that enforce the principle of least privilege. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious directory traversal patterns, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when proper security controls are not implemented in file access handling mechanisms.