CVE-2018-20776 in Frog
Summary
by MITRE
Frog CMS 0.9.5 provides a directory listing for a /public request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2023
CVE-2018-20776 represents a directory listing vulnerability in Frog CMS version 0.9.5 that exposes sensitive information through an unsecured public request endpoint. This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure, where the web application fails to properly restrict access to directory contents, potentially revealing system files, configuration data, or other sensitive resources that should remain hidden from unauthorized users. The issue stems from inadequate access controls and directory traversal protection mechanisms within the CMS framework, allowing attackers to enumerate directory structures and potentially discover confidential files or application components that could aid in further exploitation attempts.
The technical flaw manifests when a malicious actor sends a crafted request to the /public endpoint, which then returns a directory listing of the underlying file system. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, as the application should either deny such requests entirely or properly authenticate and authorize users before exposing directory contents. The vulnerability can be categorized as CWE-548 Information Exposure Through Directory Listing, which specifically addresses scenarios where web servers or applications inadvertently expose directory contents without proper access controls. This weakness creates an initial reconnaissance opportunity for attackers to gather intelligence about the target system's file structure and potentially identify sensitive files such as configuration databases, backup files, or source code that might contain credentials or other exploitable information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it significantly reduces the attack surface and provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that could lead to more serious exploits. An attacker could leverage the exposed directory listing to identify backup files, temporary files, or configuration files that might contain database credentials, API keys, or other sensitive information. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories, where adversaries collect information from repositories such as file systems, databases, or web applications. The exposure of directory contents can facilitate subsequent attacks including credential theft, privilege escalation, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities present in the application, making this a critical issue that should be addressed immediately through proper access control implementation and directory listing disablement.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2018-20776 include implementing proper access controls on all public endpoints to prevent unauthorized directory enumeration, disabling directory listing features in web server configurations, and ensuring that all file system access is properly authenticated and authorized. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and sanitization to prevent malicious requests from accessing unintended directories. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in web applications, and the CMS should be updated to a supported version that addresses this specific weakness. The implementation of web application firewalls and proper logging mechanisms can also help detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts to sensitive directories, while maintaining compliance with security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.