CVE-1999-1287 in Analog
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in Analog 3.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via the forms interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-1999-1287 represents a critical security flaw in Analog 3.0 and earlier versions that exposes the application to remote file inclusion attacks through its forms interface. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object reference issues and allows malicious actors to access arbitrary files on the server by manipulating input parameters within the forms processing functionality. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict file access paths, enabling attackers to traverse the file system and retrieve sensitive information from the web server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the Analog application processes form submissions without adequate validation of user-supplied data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that includes directory traversal sequences such as "../" or similar path manipulation techniques. When the application processes these inputs through its forms interface, it fails to properly sanitize the data before using it to access files on the server, resulting in unauthorized file retrieval. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-22 - Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 - Data from Information Repositories, specifically targeting the extraction of sensitive data through improper access controls.
The operational impact of CVE-1999-1287 is significant as it allows remote attackers to access sensitive files that may contain configuration data, user credentials, application source code, or other confidential information stored on the server. Depending on the server configuration and file permissions, attackers could potentially retrieve database connection strings, administrative credentials, or other sensitive data that could lead to further compromise of the system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication to exploit, making it a severe threat that can be leveraged by anyone with network access to the affected service. This allows for reconnaissance activities and potential privilege escalation within the compromised environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-1999-1287 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the Analog application's forms processing code. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Analog versions 3.1 and later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper path validation and access control measures. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with content filtering capabilities can help detect and block malicious traversal attempts. System administrators should also ensure that the web server is configured with minimal file permissions and that sensitive files are stored outside the web root directory. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege when developing web applications. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications and ensure that proper access controls are implemented to prevent unauthorized file access through web interfaces.