CVE-2018-20643 in Entrepreneur Job Portal Script
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Scripts Mall Entrepreneur Job Portal Script 3.0.1 has directory traversal via a direct request for a listing of an image directory such as an assets/ directory.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20643 affects PHP Scripts Mall Entrepreneur Job Portal Script version 3.0.1 and represents a directory traversal flaw that allows unauthorized access to sensitive directories within the application's file structure. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object references and directory traversal attacks that have been consistently documented in security frameworks including CWE-22 and CWE-23. The specific implementation flaw occurs when the application processes direct requests for listing image directories such as the assets/ directory without proper input validation or access control measures.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves an attacker constructing a malicious request that targets the application's directory listing functionality. When the system processes such a request, it fails to sanitize or validate the input parameters that specify which directory should be accessed or listed. This allows an attacker to traverse the file system beyond the intended directories and potentially access sensitive files that should remain restricted. The vulnerability specifically manifests when requesting listings of image directories, suggesting that the application's file handling mechanisms are not properly enforcing directory boundaries or access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could potentially expose sensitive application files, configuration data, or even system files that might contain credentials or other critical information. An attacker could leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to the application's file system, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities including code execution or privilege escalation. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of proper input sanitization and access control implementation within the application's core file handling mechanisms.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and credential access techniques, as directory traversal often serves as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and CWE-23 which covers absolute path traversal. Organizations should implement proper input validation, establish strict directory access controls, and employ proper file system access restrictions to mitigate this type of vulnerability. The recommended mitigations include implementing proper path validation, using whitelisting approaches for directory access, and ensuring that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before being processed by the application's file system functions. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack.