CVE-2006-6938
Description
Directory traversal in NitroTech 0.0.3a allows remote attackers to include arbitrary files and achieve remote code execution via the root parameter.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Directory traversal in NitroTech 0.0.3a allows remote attackers to include arbitrary files and achieve remote code execution via the root parameter.
Vulnerability
A directory traversal vulnerability exists in includes/common.php of NitroTech 0.0.3a (as distributed before 2006). The root parameter is not sanitized, allowing an attacker to include arbitrary files by injecting ../ sequences. The vulnerable code path is reachable without any authentication or special configuration [1].
Exploitation
An attacker with network access can send a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable script, setting the root parameter to a path containing directory traversal sequences (e.g., ../../../../etc/passwd). The exploit published in [1] demonstrates how this can be leveraged to achieve remote code execution by including a file under attacker control, such as a PHP log file containing injected code. No authentication or user interaction is required.
Impact
Successful exploitation allows an attacker to include arbitrary local files, leading to information disclosure (e.g., reading sensitive configuration files). More critically, by combining the directory traversal with log poisoning or other file injection techniques, an attacker can execute arbitrary PHP code on the server, resulting in full remote code execution and complete compromise of the web application and underlying system [1].
Mitigation
No official patch or fixed version has been released for this vulnerability. The software is outdated and likely unmaintained. The recommended mitigation is to remove or replace NitroTech 0.0.3a with a supported alternative. As of the publication date, this CVE is not listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
AI Insight generated on May 24, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.
Affected products
2Patches
0No patches discovered yet.
Vulnerability mechanics
Root cause
"Missing input validation in `includes/common.php` allows directory traversal via `..` sequences and null byte injection in the `root` parameter, enabling arbitrary file inclusion."
Attack vector
An attacker first registers an account and logs in, then uploads a malicious avatar file (e.g., `hauru.gif`) containing PHP code via the profile page. The attacker then sends a GET request to `includes/common.php` with a `root` parameter containing `../images/avatars/hauru.gif%00` — the `..` sequences traverse directories and the null byte truncates the path, causing the application to include the uploaded GIF file as PHP. The attacker's shell commands are passed via a custom `HAURU` HTTP header, and the PHP code in the avatar executes them [ref_id=1].
Affected code
The vulnerable file is `includes/common.php`, which accepts a `root` parameter. The exploit sends a request to `includes/common.php?root=../images/avatars/hauru.gif%00`, using directory traversal sequences (`..`) and a null byte (`%00`) to include an attacker-uploaded avatar file as PHP code [ref_id=1].
What the fix does
No patch is included in the bundle. The advisory does not specify a fix. To remediate, the application should validate and sanitize the `root` parameter in `includes/common.php` to reject directory traversal sequences (`..`) and null bytes, and should not allow user-controlled file inclusion without proper allow-listing.
Preconditions
- authThe attacker must be able to register an account and log in to the NitroTech application.
- inputThe attacker must be able to upload an avatar file (GIF with embedded PHP code) via the profile page.
- configThe server must have `register_globals` or allow include path manipulation such that the `root` parameter is used in an include statement.
- networkThe attacker must have network access to the NitroTech web server.
Reproduction
The exploit script at [ref_id=1] provides full reproduction steps: 1) Register a user (username `Hauru`, password `devilteam`). 2) Log in. 3) Upload a crafted avatar file (`hauru.gif`) containing PHP code via `profile.php?page_id=2`. 4) Send a GET request to `includes/common.php?root=../images/avatars/hauru.gif%00` with a `HAURU` HTTP header containing the shell command. The response body between the two "Hauru" markers contains the command output [ref_id=1].
Generated on May 26, 2026. Inputs: CWE entries + fix-commit diffs from this CVE's patches. Citations validated against bundle.
References
3News mentions
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