CVE-2004-2256

Vulnerability

A directory traversal vulnerability exists in phpMyFAQ version 1.4.0 alpha. The lang parameter is not sanitized for path traversal sequences (..), allowing an attacker to specify arbitrary file paths. The vulnerability can be triggered without authentication if the application is accessible over the network [1].

Exploitation

An attacker can exploit this by sending a crafted HTTP request with .. sequences in the lang variable, e.g., ?lang=../../etc/passwd. No authentication or special privileges are required; only network access to a vulnerable phpMyFAQ installation is necessary. The application processes the user-supplied path, potentially reading arbitrary files or including local PHP files, which could lead to code execution [1].

Impact

Successful exploitation allows an attacker to read arbitrary files from the server, including sensitive configuration files or system files. If local PHP files can be included and executed, this could lead to remote code execution with the privileges of the web server user (typically limited, but potentially sufficient for further compromise). The primary impact is a breach of confidentiality and possibly integrity [1].

Mitigation

As of the publication date (2004-12-31), no patched version has been released for phpMyFAQ 1.4.0 alpha. Users should monitor for updates or consider restricting access to the vulnerable parameter via input validation or web server rules. If the alpha version is no longer maintained, an upgrade to a later, stable release is recommended. No workaround is documented in the available references [1].