CVE-2002-0482 in Netsupport Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in PCI Netsupport Manager before version 7, when running web extensions, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the HTTP GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0482 represents a classic directory traversal flaw within the PCI Netsupport Manager web extensions component. This security weakness affects versions prior to 7.0 of the software, creating a significant exposure that remote attackers can exploit to access arbitrary files on the system. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the web extension processes HTTP GET requests containing directory traversal sequences, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical mechanism behind this flaw involves the improper validation of user-supplied input within the web extension's file handling routines. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTTP GET request containing .. (dot dot) sequences, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate these path traversal elements. This validation failure enables the attacker to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and access files that should remain restricted. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it allows for arbitrary file reading capabilities. According to CWE classification, this maps directly to CWE-22: Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') which is a well-documented weakness in software security design.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this weakness to access configuration files, user credentials, system logs, and other sensitive data stored on the affected server. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or network proximity to exploit it. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083: File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries seek to identify system resources and access restricted files. The potential for privilege escalation exists if the web extension runs with elevated privileges, as attackers might access system-critical files that could reveal further attack vectors or enable more sophisticated exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0482 should focus on immediate patching of the PCI Netsupport Manager software to version 7.0 or later, where the directory traversal vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the affected web extensions and consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block directory traversal attempts. Input validation mechanisms should be strengthened to reject any path traversal sequences in HTTP requests, and the principle of least privilege should be enforced by running the web extension with minimal necessary permissions. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications, as directory traversal remains a prevalent issue in web security. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and access control mechanisms in preventing unauthorized file access within web applications.