CVE-2025-50971 in AbanteCart
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2025
Directory traversal vulnerability in AbanteCart version 1.4.2 allows unauthenticated attackers to gain access to sensitive system files via the template parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-50971 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within AbanteCart version 1.4.2 that exposes the system to unauthenticated attack vectors. This weakness resides in the application's handling of the template parameter within the index.php file, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate file access requests and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system components. The vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object reference issues and aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses directory traversal or path traversal vulnerabilities that allow attackers to access files and directories outside the intended scope.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input received through the template parameter. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate beyond the intended file system boundaries. When the application processes these requests without adequate input sanitization, it allows the attacker to access configuration files, database credentials, source code, and other sensitive components that should remain protected within the application's secure directory structure. This particular vulnerability affects the core application logic where template rendering occurs, making it a fundamental security weakness that could compromise the entire system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it provides attackers with the potential to escalate privileges and execute further malicious activities within the compromised environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could obtain database connection details, administrative credentials, or application configuration files that would enable them to gain deeper access to the system. This weakness particularly affects web applications that rely on dynamic template rendering, as the vulnerability demonstrates how parameter manipulation can lead to complete system compromise. The unauthenticated nature of this attack means that any user with access to the web application can exploit it without requiring prior authorization or credentials, making the attack surface significantly broader than authenticated vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization measures within the application's template parameter handling logic. The recommended approach includes implementing proper parameter validation that strips or encodes potentially dangerous characters, implementing a whitelist-based template selection mechanism, and ensuring that all file access operations occur within predetermined safe directories. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious directory traversal patterns, along with regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege when handling user-supplied data, as outlined in the mitre attack framework where such vulnerabilities often serve as initial access points for more sophisticated attacks. The remediation process should include immediate patching of the affected version and implementation of proper access controls to prevent unauthorized file system access through parameter manipulation.