📄 Description (English)
CuteEditor for PHP (now referred to as Rich Text Editor) 6.6 contains a directory traversal vulnerability in the browse template feature that allows attackers to write files to arbitrary web root directories. Attackers can exploit the ServerMapPath() function by renaming uploaded HTML files using directory traversal sequences to write files outside the intended template directory.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2021-47751 is a critical directory traversal vulnerability in CuteEditor for PHP (Rich Text Editor) 6.6 that allows unauthenticated attackers to write arbitrary files to web root directories through the browse template feature. The vulnerability exploits improper input validation in the ServerMapPath() function, enabling remote code execution when combined with file upload capabilities. With publicly available exploits and widespread use in legacy PHP applications across Saudi organizations, this poses an immediate threat to web application security.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 1, 2026 13:56
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi organizations using legacy PHP-based content management systems and web applications. Most affected sectors include: Banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions using CuteEditor in customer portals), Government agencies (NCA oversight entities, ministry websites), Healthcare providers (SEHA-affiliated hospitals with patient information portals), Telecommunications (STC, Mobily legacy systems), and E-commerce platforms. The ability to write arbitrary files enables attackers to deploy webshells, modify website content, steal sensitive data, and establish persistent backdoors. Organizations with internet-facing PHP applications are at highest risk.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare and Medical Services
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
E-commerce and Retail
Education
Media and Publishing
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all systems running CuteEditor/Rich Text Editor 6.6 using vulnerability scanners and asset inventory tools
2. Isolate affected web servers from production traffic if exploitation is suspected
3. Review web server logs (access.log, error.log) for suspicious file upload patterns and directory traversal sequences (../, ..\)
4. Check web root directories for unauthorized files created in the last 90 days
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Upgrade CuteEditor/Rich Text Editor to version 6.7 or later immediately
2. If immediate patching is not possible, disable the browse template feature in configuration files
3. Implement strict file upload restrictions at the application level
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if patch unavailable):
1. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block requests containing directory traversal sequences (../, ..\ , %2e%2e)
2. Apply strict input validation: whitelist allowed characters in file names, reject any path separators
3. Configure web server to deny write permissions outside designated upload directories
4. Implement file upload restrictions: validate file extensions server-side, store uploads outside web root
5. Apply principle of least privilege: run web server with minimal required permissions
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for HTTP requests with encoded traversal sequences: %2e%2e, %252e, ..%2f
2. Alert on file creation attempts in unexpected directories (outside /uploads or /templates)
3. Monitor for .php, .phtml, .php5 file uploads in template directories
4. Track failed file write attempts and permission errors in application logs
5. Implement YARA rule: detect HTML files with embedded PHP code in upload directories
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع الأنظمة التي تعمل بـ CuteEditor/Rich Text Editor 6.6 باستخدام أدوات فحص الثغرات وأدوات جرد الأصول
2. عزل خوادم الويب المتأثرة عن حركة الإنتاج إذا تم الاشتباه في الاستغلال
3. مراجعة سجلات خادم الويب (access.log, error.log) للبحث عن أنماط تحميل ملفات مريبة وتسلسلات اجتياز المجلدات
4. التحقق من مجلدات جذر الويب للملفات غير المصرح بها المنشأة في آخر 90 يوماً
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. ترقية CuteEditor/Rich Text Editor إلى الإصدار 6.7 أو أحدث فوراً
2. إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً، قم بتعطيل ميزة استعراض القالب في ملفات الإعدادات
3. تطبيق قيود صارمة على تحميل الملفات على مستوى التطبيق
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح متاحاً):
1. تطبيق قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب (WAF) لحجب الطلبات التي تحتوي على تسلسلات اجتياز المجلدات
2. تطبيق التحقق الصارم من المدخلات: قائمة بيضاء للأحرف المسموحة، رفض فواصل المسارات
3. تكوين خادم الويب لرفض أذونات الكتابة خارج المجلدات المخصصة
4. تطبيق قيود تحميل الملفات: التحقق من امتدادات الملفات على جانب الخادم
5. تطبيق مبدأ أقل امتياز: تشغيل خادم الويب بأقل صلاحيات مطلوبة
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة طلبات HTTP التي تحتوي على تسلسلات اجتياز مشفرة
2. تنبيهات عند محاولات إنشاء ملفات في مجلدات غير متوقعة
3. مراقبة تحميل ملفات PHP في مجلدات القوالب
4. تتبع محاولات كتابة الملفات الفاشلة في سجلات التطبيق
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.12.1.1 - Segregation of duties in system development
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
A.14.2.5 - Secure development environment
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.RA-1 - Asset management and vulnerability identification
PR.DS-6 - Data input validation and encoding
DE.CM-8 - Vulnerability scans and assessments
RS.MI-2 - Incident response and containment
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.12.2.1 - Change management procedures
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
A.14.2.5 - Secure development environment
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
6.2 - Security patches and updates
6.5.1 - Injection flaws prevention
6.5.8 - Improper access control
11.2 - Vulnerability scanning
🔗 References & Sources 4
🔗
http://phphtmledit.com/
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Product
🔗
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/50994
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Exploit
🔗
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/cuteeditor-for-php-directory-traversal
disclosure@vulncheck.com
Third Party Advisory
🔗
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/50994
134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Exploit
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
phphtmledit:rich_text_editor