CVE-2026-55231 in Vvveb
Summary
by MITRE • 10/01/2026
Vvveb is a powerful and easy to use CMS with page builder to build websites, blogs or ecommerce stores. Prior to version 1.0.8.6, a flawed central path sanitizer lets an authenticated admin-panel user who holds backup access (default role site_admin or higher) read and delete arbitrary files on a server. An attacker can recover database credentials from config/db.php, read host files such as /etc/passwd, and delete config/db.php to push a site back into install mode for a full takeover. This issue has been patched in version 1.0.8.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2026
Vvveb CMS is a content management system designed for building websites, blogs, and e-commerce stores using an integrated page builder. In versions prior to 1.0.8.6, the application contains a critical security flaw within its central path sanitizer mechanism used during file backup operations. This vulnerability allows authenticated users with specific privileges to bypass intended access controls, leading to severe consequences including unauthorized data exposure and system compromise. The root cause lies in insufficient validation of user-supplied input when constructing file paths for backup processes, enabling directory traversal attacks that escape the designated webroot or application directories.
The technical flaw permits an attacker who has authenticated as a site administrator or holds equivalent privileges with backup access to read arbitrary files on the underlying server operating system. By manipulating path parameters in API requests or form submissions related to backup functions, the attacker can traverse up directory levels using sequences such as dot-dot-slash characters. This capability allows reading sensitive configuration files like config/db.php which typically contain database connection strings including usernames and passwords. Additionally, standard host files such as /etc/passwd on Linux systems become accessible, revealing user accounts and potentially aiding further lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Beyond information disclosure, this vulnerability enables destructive actions against critical application components. An attacker can delete essential configuration files like config/db.php from the server filesystem. Removing these files disrupts normal application functionality by forcing Vvveb CMS back into its initial installation mode upon next access attempt. This state effectively disables existing site operations and allows a full takeover scenario where an adversary could reinstall the platform with malicious configurations or extract additional credentials during reconfiguration processes. The ability to delete arbitrary files also poses risks for denial of service conditions if critical system files are targeted, although the primary impact remains focused on confidentiality and integrity violations within the application context.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory which describes path traversal issues allowing access outside intended boundaries. It also relates to CWE-538 Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File if sensitive data is inadvertently logged during failed attempts, though the primary concern here remains direct file system access via flawed input validation in backup modules. In terms of attack vectors and tactics, this scenario corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery which involves enumerating files and directories for reconnaissance purposes, followed by potential exploitation through data exfiltration or modification depending on subsequent actions taken after gaining initial file access privileges.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve upgrading Vvveb CMS to version 1.0.8.6 where the path sanitizer has been corrected to properly validate and restrict input paths against traversal sequences. Organizations running earlier versions should immediately apply this patch in production environments. Until patches are deployed, administrators can implement additional controls such as restricting backup functionality access only to highly privileged accounts beyond basic site administration roles, ensuring that least privilege principles are strictly enforced across all user groups interacting with sensitive system components. Web application firewalls may also provide temporary protection by detecting and blocking common path traversal patterns in HTTP requests targeting backup endpoints, although this serves merely as a compensating control rather than a definitive solution given the complexity of modern web applications and evolving evasion techniques employed by attackers seeking to exploit similar weaknesses elsewhere in the stack.