CVE-2025-30793 in Houzez Property Feed Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in Property Hive Houzez Property Feed allows Path Traversal. This issue affects Houzez Property Feed: from n/a through 2.5.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-30793 represents a critical path traversal flaw within the Property Hive Houzez Property Feed plugin, which operates under the broader Houzez property management system. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict file path access within the application's directory structure. The vulnerability exists in versions ranging from the initial release through 2.5.4, indicating a prolonged period during which the flaw remained unaddressed within the software's lifecycle. The affected system processes user-supplied data that is intended to reference specific files or directories, but fails to adequately validate or sanitize this input before using it in file system operations. This weakness creates an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate file access requests and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources or data. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which defines path traversal or directory traversal vulnerabilities as weaknesses that occur when applications permit access to files and directories stored outside the intended directory.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes file path requests without proper validation of user input. Attackers can craft malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences such as '../' or similar patterns to navigate outside the intended directory boundaries. When the application processes these requests, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the input paths, allowing attackers to access files that should normally be restricted or protected. This can lead to unauthorized data access, including configuration files, database credentials, or other sensitive information stored within the application's directory structure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited by unauthenticated users, making it accessible to anyone who can interact with the affected system. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass normal file access controls and potentially read arbitrary files from the server's file system, which could include application source code, configuration files, or user data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access, as it can enable more sophisticated attack vectors including remote code execution, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain access to sensitive system information, user credentials, or application configuration data that could be used to escalate privileges or launch further attacks against the system. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the system, as it allows for unauthorized access to potentially sensitive data stored within the application's directory structure. Organizations using affected versions of the Houzez Property Feed plugin face significant security risks, particularly those managing sensitive property data or user information. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that this vulnerability can be exploited by attackers without requiring elevated privileges or authentication, making it a high-severity threat that requires immediate attention.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that reject or properly encode any user-supplied input that could be used for path traversal attacks. The implementation of a whitelist-based approach to file access, where only predefined and validated file paths are permitted, can effectively prevent unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls or intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious path traversal patterns. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that the application runs with minimal required permissions and that file system access is restricted to only necessary directories. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those defined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for preventing path traversal attacks. Organizations should also implement proper monitoring and logging of file access operations to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the applied fixes do not introduce regressions or break existing functionality while effectively addressing the path traversal vulnerability.