CVE-2026-105125 in LaraDashboard
Summary
by MITRE • 10/04/2026
LaraDashboard before 1.4.8 contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to read JSON files by manipulating the {lang} route segment. On Windows hosts, attackers can send URL-encoded backslash sequences like ..%5C to escape resources/lang and read composer.json or other application JSON files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2026
The vulnerability identified in LaraDashboard versions prior to 1.4.8 represents a critical path traversal flaw that stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied input within the routing mechanism. Specifically, the system processes the {lang} route segment without adequately sanitizing or normalizing directory separators before using them to construct file paths for resource loading. This architectural oversight allows an unauthenticated attacker to manipulate the intended file resolution logic by injecting malicious path sequences into the URL parameter designated for language selection. The core technical failure lies in the application's inability to distinguish between legitimate locale identifiers and hierarchical navigation commands, thereby exposing internal filesystem structures that are not meant to be accessible via web requests.
From a technical perspective, this flaw is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which describes scenarios where software does not properly neutralize special elements such as ../ or ..\ sequences in input paths. On Windows-based hosting environments, the vulnerability can be exploited by sending URL-encoded backslash characters, specifically represented as %5C, combined with dot-dot sequences like ..%5C. This technique allows the attacker to traverse up the directory tree from the expected resources/lang directory, effectively breaking out of the intended sandboxed area. By carefully crafting these requests, an adversary can navigate through parent directories to access sensitive configuration files stored outside the web root or application-specific resource folders.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its unauthenticated nature and the sensitivity of the data potentially exposed. Successful exploitation enables attackers to read arbitrary JSON files from the server's filesystem. This includes critical configuration files such as composer.json, which often contains metadata about dependencies, repository URLs, and sometimes embedded credentials or private keys if not properly secured. The exposure of these files can lead to further reconnaissance activities, where an attacker gathers information about the technology stack, version numbers of third-party libraries, and other architectural details that facilitate more advanced attacks such as remote code execution via known vulnerabilities in listed dependencies.
This vulnerability aligns with several entries in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly T1083: File and Directory Discovery, which covers techniques used to enumerate files and directories on a target system for subsequent exploitation. It also relates to T1530: Data from Local System, as it involves reading data directly from the local storage of the compromised host without authentication. The lack of access control mechanisms means that any anonymous user interacting with the application can potentially extract this information, turning what might seem like a minor configuration leak into a severe security incident.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action is required to upgrade LaraDashboard to version 1.4.8 or later, where the path traversal issue has been addressed through improved input validation and secure file handling practices. In addition to upgrading, administrators should implement strict access controls on sensitive directories such as those containing composer.json or other configuration files at the web server level, ensuring they are not directly accessible via HTTP requests regardless of application-level vulnerabilities. Furthermore, adopting a principle of least privilege for the user account running the web server can limit the extent of filesystem exposure if an exploitation attempt occurs. Regular security audits and static code analysis tools should be employed to detect similar path manipulation flaws in custom routing logic before deployment.