CVE-2023-2034 in froxlor
Summary
by MITRE • 04/14/2023
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type in GitHub repository froxlor/froxlor prior to 2.0.14.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2034 represents a critical security flaw in the froxlor web hosting control panel software prior to version 2.0.14. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that permit unauthorized file uploads with potentially malicious extensions. The vulnerability exists within the file upload functionality of the web interface, where the application fails to properly verify file types before processing and storing uploaded content. The flaw allows attackers to bypass security restrictions and upload files with dangerous extensions such as .php, .jsp, .asp, or other script interpretable formats that could be executed on the web server. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-434 which describes the insecure upload of file with dangerous type, a well-documented weakness in web applications that enables arbitrary code execution. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that froxlor is a widely used open source hosting control panel that manages multiple domains and user accounts on shared hosting environments, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking persistent access to hosting infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the web-based administrative interface where users can upload various types of files for configuration or content management purposes. The application lacks proper file type validation checks that should verify the MIME type, file extension, and content signature of uploaded files. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious files with seemingly benign extensions that actually contain executable code, or by directly uploading shell scripts that can be executed on the server. The unrestricted nature of this upload mechanism means that even if the application attempts to validate file extensions, the validation can be bypassed through various techniques such as encoding, renaming, or exploiting misconfigurations in the upload handler. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1505.003 which involves the use of web shell for maintaining access and executing commands on compromised systems. The impact is particularly severe because the froxlor control panel typically runs with elevated privileges and has access to sensitive user data, configuration files, and system resources that could be leveraged for further attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-2034 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Once an attacker successfully uploads a malicious file, they can execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially gaining access to all hosted domains, user accounts, and sensitive configuration data. The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers with minimal privileges, making it particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments where multiple users may have access to the control panel. Organizations using affected versions of froxlor face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential legal liability from compromised customer data. The vulnerability also enables attackers to establish persistent backdoors, create additional user accounts, modify existing configurations, and potentially use the compromised system as a launching point for attacks against other systems within the network. The remediation process requires immediate patching of the software to version 2.0.14 or later, along with comprehensive security auditing of uploaded files and system configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-2034 should include immediate deployment of the patched froxlor version 2.0.14 which implements proper file type validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as restricting file upload capabilities to specific user roles, implementing strict file extension whitelisting, and configuring web servers to prevent execution of uploaded files in web-accessible directories. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper file validation at multiple layers including client-side, server-side, and database-level validation can significantly reduce the attack surface. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious file upload patterns and unusual file execution activities. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their hosting infrastructure, review access controls and user permissions, and implement proper incident response procedures. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be established to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in the future. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, aligning with industry standards that emphasize the need for defense-in-depth approaches to protect against file upload related attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and provide additional layers of protection against this type of vulnerability.