CVE-2000-1146 in ManTrap
Summary
by MITRE
Recourse ManTrap 1.6 allows attackers to cause a denial of service via a sequence of commands that navigate into and out of the /proc/self directory and executing various commands such as ls or pwd.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-1146 affects Recourse ManTrap 1.6, a security monitoring tool designed to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts on network systems. This flaw represents a denial of service vulnerability that exploits the application's handling of file system navigation commands within the /proc/self directory structure. The /proc filesystem in Unix-like operating systems provides an interface to kernel data structures and is commonly used for system monitoring and process information retrieval. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and improper handling of directory traversal sequences within the application's command processing mechanism.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves a specific sequence of commands that manipulate the application's file system navigation capabilities. Attackers can navigate into the /proc/self directory using standard navigation commands and then execute various system commands such as ls or pwd to trigger the denial of service condition. This particular flaw demonstrates a lack of proper boundary checking and command sanitization within the application's processing pipeline. The vulnerability stems from the application's inability to properly validate or restrict directory traversal operations, allowing malicious command sequences to interfere with normal application functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can effectively render the security monitoring tool ineffective during attack scenarios. When exploited, the denial of service condition prevents the application from properly monitoring network traffic and detecting potential security breaches, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to bypass security controls. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a security tool designed to protect systems, meaning that exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the protected network environment. This type of vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient input validation that can be exploited to undermine the very security mechanisms intended to protect the system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and command sanitization within the application's processing framework. Organizations should ensure that all directory traversal operations are properly validated and restricted to prevent unauthorized navigation into sensitive system directories. The application should enforce strict boundaries on command execution and implement proper error handling for invalid directory operations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks. System administrators should immediately apply vendor patches or updates when available, and consider implementing additional monitoring to detect unusual command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in security-critical applications, as it demonstrates how seemingly benign navigation operations can be weaponized to create denial of service conditions.