CVE-2025-45239 in FoxCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/05/2025
An issue in the restores method (DataBackup.php) of foxcms v2.0.6 allows attackers to execute a directory traversal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-45239 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the foxcms v2.0.6 content management system. This security weakness resides in the restores method implementation within the DataBackup.php file, which processes backup restoration operations. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate file paths during the restoration process, potentially allowing them to access, read, or modify files outside the intended directory boundaries. Such directory traversal vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can provide unauthorized access to sensitive system files, configuration data, or user information that should remain protected. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. These attacks exploit insufficient input validation to bypass access controls and gain access to restricted resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the restores method fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input that determines file paths during backup restoration. Attackers can craft malicious input containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate outside the intended backup directory structure. When the system processes these crafted paths, it may attempt to restore files to locations outside the designated backup directory, potentially leading to arbitrary file access or even remote code execution depending on the system configuration. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and sanitization, which is fundamental to secure coding practices. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications where backup restoration functionality is exposed to untrusted users or where administrative privileges are required to perform restoration operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-45239 extends beyond simple data access violations to potentially compromise entire system integrity. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to access sensitive configuration files, database credentials, or application source code that might reveal additional vulnerabilities. In a worst-case scenario, if the application runs with elevated privileges or if the restoration process allows writing files to arbitrary locations, attackers might be able to inject malicious code or modify critical system components. This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK tactics including TA0005 (Defense Evasion) through path traversal techniques and TA0006 (Credential Access) when sensitive data is exposed. The attack surface is particularly wide in content management systems where backup functionality is frequently used and often requires administrative privileges to access, making this a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or access sensitive system resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate input validation and sanitization within the restores method of DataBackup.php. The implementation must strictly validate all file paths to ensure they remain within the designated backup directory boundaries, rejecting any input containing traversal sequences or absolute paths. Organizations should implement proper access controls and privilege separation to limit who can perform backup restoration operations, ensuring that only authorized administrators can access this functionality. Additionally, the system should employ proper path normalization techniques that resolve relative paths and eliminate any traversal components before processing file operations. Security patches should be applied immediately to upgrade foxcms to a version that addresses this vulnerability, as the flaw exists in the specific v2.0.6 release. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application. The remediation process should also include monitoring for suspicious backup restoration activities and implementing proper logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls or other protective measures that can detect and block malicious path traversal attempts before they reach the vulnerable application code.