CVE-2001-1344 in Webstore 400
Summary
by MITRE
WSSecurity.pl in WebStore allows remote attackers to bypass authentication by providing the program with a filename that exists, which is made easier by (1) inserting a null character or (2) .. (dot dot).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-1344 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the WSSecurity.pl component of the WebStore application. This issue stems from improper input validation and file path handling mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied filenames. The vulnerability specifically affects the security controls designed to protect access to sensitive resources within the web application environment. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious filenames that manipulate the underlying file system access routines, effectively circumventing the intended authentication mechanisms. The flaw demonstrates a classic path traversal vulnerability pattern that has been documented in numerous security assessments over the years.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary methods that leverage different aspects of file system path manipulation. The first method involves inserting null characters into the filename parameter, which can cause the application to incorrectly interpret the input and truncate the path at an unintended location. This technique exploits buffer handling limitations in the Perl scripting environment where WSSecurity.pl operates. The second method utilizes directory traversal sequences using double dots ".." to navigate upward in the file system hierarchy, allowing attackers to access files outside the intended directory boundaries. Both approaches exploit fundamental weaknesses in input validation and path resolution logic that should have prevented arbitrary file access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses path traversal and directory traversal issues in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple authentication bypass, as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to potentially sensitive files within the web application's file system. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to read configuration files, access user data, retrieve database connection credentials, or even execute arbitrary code if the application has insufficient access controls. The vulnerability affects the core security model of the WebStore application, potentially compromising the entire web application infrastructure. Organizations relying on this system would face significant risks including data breaches, unauthorized system access, and potential escalation to full system compromise. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web environments.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability must address both the immediate input validation issues and the underlying architectural weaknesses in the file access handling routines. The primary solution involves implementing comprehensive input sanitization that rejects or properly escapes any characters that could be used for path manipulation, including null characters and directory traversal sequences. Developers should implement strict path validation that ensures all file access operations occur within predetermined safe directories and that absolute paths are used instead of relative paths. The implementation should follow principle of least privilege concepts where the application operates with minimal required file system permissions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious path traversal attempts, though this represents a secondary defense mechanism. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security risks and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through path traversal exploitation.