CVE-2024-6648
📋 TL;DR
An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this absolute path traversal vulnerability in AP Page Builder to modify configuration files and read arbitrary files on the server. This affects all AP Page Builder installations prior to version 4.0.0, potentially exposing sensitive system files.
💻 Affected Systems
- AP Page Builder
📦 What is this software?
Ap Pagebuilder by Apollotheme
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise through reading sensitive files like /etc/passwd, SSH keys, database credentials, or configuration files, potentially leading to lateral movement and data exfiltration.
Likely Case
Unauthorized reading of web application files, configuration files, or other sensitive data stored on the server, potentially exposing credentials or business logic.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if file permissions are properly configured and sensitive files are not accessible via the web server user context.
🎯 Exploit Status
The vulnerability requires no authentication and involves simple path traversal techniques, making exploitation straightforward.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 4.0.0
Vendor Advisory: https://www.incibe.es/en/incibe-cert/notices/aviso/path-traversal-ap-page-builder
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Backup current configuration and data. 2. Download AP Page Builder version 4.0.0 or later from the official source. 3. Replace the existing installation with the updated version. 4. Restart the web server or application service. 5. Verify the update was successful.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation Filter
allImplement server-side validation to reject path traversal sequences in the 'product_item_path' parameter.
# Example PHP validation snippet
if (strpos($_POST['product_item_path'], '..') !== false || strpos($_POST['product_item_path'], '/') === 0) {
die('Invalid path');
}
Web Application Firewall Rule
allConfigure WAF to block requests containing path traversal patterns targeting the vulnerable endpoint.
# Example ModSecurity rule
SecRule ARGS:product_item_path "@contains .." "id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'Path traversal attempt'"
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict file system permissions to limit the web server user's access to sensitive directories and files.
- Deploy network segmentation to isolate the vulnerable system from critical assets and monitor for suspicious file access patterns.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the AP Page Builder version in the admin panel or configuration files. If version is below 4.0.0, the system is vulnerable.Check Version:
grep -r 'version' /path/to/ap-page-builder/config/files/ or check admin interfaceVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, confirm the version is 4.0.0 or higher and test that path traversal attempts via the 'product_item_path' parameter are properly blocked.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing '..', '../', or absolute paths in the 'product_item_path' parameter
- Unusual file access patterns from web server process
- 403 or 404 errors with path traversal patterns
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests with encoded path traversal sequences (%2e%2e, %2f)
- Multiple failed attempts to access sensitive file paths
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND (uri="*product_item_path*" AND (uri="*..*" OR uri="*/etc*" OR uri="*/proc*"))