CVE-2021-44351
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to read arbitrary files on NavigateCMS servers by manipulating the 'id' parameter in the navigate_download.php script. It affects all NavigateCMS 2.9 installations, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, credentials, and other server data.
💻 Affected Systems
- NavigateCMS
📦 What is this software?
Navigate Cms by Naviwebs
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could read sensitive files like configuration files containing database credentials, source code, or system files, leading to complete system compromise.
Likely Case
Attackers will read configuration files to extract database credentials and other sensitive information, potentially leading to data breaches.
If Mitigated
With proper file permissions and web server restrictions, impact is limited to readable files within the web root.
🎯 Exploit Status
Simple HTTP request manipulation required. No authentication needed. Public proof-of-concept available in GitHub issues.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: NavigateCMS 2.9.1 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/NavigateCMS/Navigate-CMS/issues/28
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Backup your NavigateCMS installation and database. 2. Download the latest version from the official repository. 3. Replace the vulnerable navigate_download.php file with the patched version. 4. Verify the fix by testing the vulnerable endpoint.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Block vulnerable endpoint
allRestrict access to the vulnerable navigate_download.php script using web server configuration.
# Apache: Add to .htaccess
<Files "navigate_download.php">
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from all
</Files>
# Nginx: Add to server block
location ~ /navigate/navigate_download\.php$ {
deny all;
return 403;
}
Input validation
allAdd validation to check that the 'id' parameter contains only allowed characters.
# Add to navigate_download.php before file operations
if (!preg_match('/^[a-zA-Z0-9_\-\.]+$/', $_GET['id'])) {
http_response_code(400);
exit('Invalid file request');
}
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict file permissions to limit readable files to only those necessary for web functionality.
- Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with rules to block directory traversal patterns in the 'id' parameter.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Test by accessing: http://your-site.com/navigate/navigate_download.php?id=../../../../etc/passwd (or similar path traversal). If it returns system files, it's vulnerable.Check Version:
Check the NavigateCMS version in the admin panel or look for version information in the source code.Verify Fix Applied:
Attempt the same path traversal test after patching. It should return an error or empty response instead of file contents.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- HTTP requests to /navigate/navigate_download.php with 'id' parameter containing path traversal sequences (../, ..\)
- Unusual file access patterns from web server process
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests with path traversal payloads in URL parameters
- Unusual outbound data transfers following file read attempts
SIEM Query:
source="web_server_logs" AND uri="/navigate/navigate_download.php" AND (query CONTAINS "../" OR query CONTAINS "..\")