CVE-2001-1082 in Radius
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Livingston/Lucent RADIUS before 2.1.va.1 may allow attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1082 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Livingston/Lucent RADIUS server software prior to version 2.1.va.1. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw enables malicious actors to exploit the software's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters that specify file paths, thereby allowing unauthorized access to sensitive system files and directories beyond the intended scope of the application's operation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the exploitation of insufficient input validation mechanisms within the RADIUS server's file handling processes. Attackers can construct malicious requests containing directory traversal sequences such as ".." or "../" to navigate outside the designated file system boundaries. When the server processes these malformed requests, it fails to adequately sanitize the input paths, allowing the system to interpret and access files that should remain restricted. This occurs because the software does not properly validate or normalize file path inputs before processing them, creating an opportunity for attackers to access files in parent directories or even system-wide locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted across network security infrastructure. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can potentially access sensitive configuration files, authentication credentials, system logs, and other confidential data stored on the RADIUS server. This compromise can lead to unauthorized network access, privilege escalation, and complete system infiltration. The vulnerability particularly affects network access control systems where RADIUS servers are deployed to authenticate users and control network access, making it a critical threat to enterprise network security. The attack vector does not require special privileges to execute, as the vulnerability exists within the server's core processing logic, making it accessible to any attacker who can interact with the RADIUS service.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1082 should prioritize immediate software patching and updates to version 2.1.va.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the directory traversal vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of RADIUS servers to untrusted networks. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting file system access permissions for the RADIUS server process and ensuring that only necessary files are accessible through the service. Additional defensive measures include implementing input validation mechanisms, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving path traversal and privilege escalation, with potential for lateral movement within compromised networks. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be implemented to detect suspicious file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in network infrastructure software, particularly in authentication and access control systems where failure can result in complete network compromise.