CVE-2014-1836: ImpressCMS Path Traversal to Arbitrary File Delete

Background

ImpressCMS is an open-source content management system (CMS) that allows users to create and manage websites. It provides various features for website administration, content creation, and user management. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1836 affects ImpressCMS versions prior to 1.3.6. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary files on the server by exploiting a path traversal vulnerability in the 'image-edit.php' file located in the 'htdocs/libraries/image-editor' directory.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability arises due to insufficient input validation in the 'image-edit.php' file. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by providing a full pathname in the 'image_path' parameter during a cancel action. By manipulating the 'image_path' parameter, an attacker can traverse the file system and delete any file accessible by the web server. This can lead to unauthorized deletion of critical files, potentially causing data loss or disrupting the functionality of the affected system.

composer require impresscms/impresscms:1.3.6

Workaround

If upgrading to the latest version is not immediately feasible, users can implement a temporary workaround by modifying the affected file ('image-edit.php') to include additional input validation. Specifically, the 'image_path' parameter should be checked to ensure it only contains a valid relative path within the expected directory. Here is an example of the modified code:

// Add the following code snippet at the beginning of the 'image-edit.php' file

$imagePath = $_GET['image_path'];

// Validate the 'image_path' parameter
if (!preg_match('/^[a-zA-Z0-9/_-]+$/', $imagePath)) {
    // Handle invalid input, e.g., log the event or display an error message
    exit('Invalid image path');
}

// Rest of the original code
// ...

Conclusion

The CVE-2014-1836 vulnerability in ImpressCMS allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary files on the server by exploiting a path traversal vulnerability. To mitigate this vulnerability, it is crucial to upgrade to the latest version of ImpressCMS (1.3.6 or later) or apply the provided workaround. Regularly monitoring for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert can help ensure the security of your ImpressCMS installation. For further assistance or support in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.

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