CVE-2019-7403 in PHPMyWind
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in PHPMyWind 5.5. It allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary folders via an admin/database_backup.php?action=import&dopost=deldir&tbname=../ URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7403 resides within PHPMyWind 5.5, a content management system that has been widely deployed for web application management. This security flaw represents a critical directory traversal issue that enables unauthorized remote attackers to execute arbitrary folder deletion operations on affected systems. The vulnerability manifests through a specific URI path that includes administrative functions, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring legitimate administrative credentials.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the database backup module of PHPMyWind. When processing the parameter action=import with dopost=deldir and specifying a tbname value that includes directory traversal sequences such as ../, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input. This allows attackers to manipulate the target directory path and execute destructive operations against arbitrary folders on the server filesystem. The vulnerability specifically targets the database backup functionality, which typically requires elevated privileges but can be bypassed through improper access control implementation.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to affected organizations as it enables complete directory deletion capabilities from remote locations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to remove critical application files, database backup archives, or even entire directory structures that contain sensitive data or system components. The impact extends beyond simple data loss to potentially compromise the entire application infrastructure, as the deletion of core directories may prevent normal application functionality or create conditions that facilitate further exploitation. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or prior authentication.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal. This weakness allows attackers to access files and directories outside the intended scope, often leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1485 Data Destruction, as it enables attackers to perform destructive operations using legitimate administrative functions while potentially bypassing normal authentication mechanisms. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, proper access controls, and application firewalls to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file system operations. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to filter malicious requests and restrict access to administrative functions through proper authentication and authorization controls. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase. Additionally, implementing proper directory permission controls and limiting the privileges of web application accounts can reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. System administrators should also monitor for unusual file deletion patterns and implement robust backup strategies to ensure rapid recovery from potential attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, as these flaws can lead to complete system compromise with minimal attacker effort.