CVE-2002-1058 in Qube
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in splashAdmin.php for Cobalt Qube 3.0 allows local users and remote attackers, to gain privileges as the Qube Admin via .. (dot dot) sequences in the sessionId cookie that point to an alternate session file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1058 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the splashAdmin.php component of Cobalt Qube 3.0, a web application security testing platform. This vulnerability exists in the session management mechanism where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input from the sessionId cookie parameter. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate file paths through the use of dot-dot-slash sequences, which are commonly exploited in directory traversal attacks to access files outside the intended directory structure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects both local users and remote attackers, indicating a fundamental flaw in how the application processes session identifiers. The exploitation mechanism leverages the ability to specify arbitrary file paths in the cookie value, enabling attackers to point to alternate session files that may contain administrative privileges or sensitive information. This type of 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 attack vector operates through the manipulation of HTTP cookies, specifically targeting the sessionId parameter, which is a common attack surface in web applications where session management is handled through cookie-based mechanisms. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it enables privilege escalation, allowing attackers to potentially gain administrative access to the Cobalt Qube 3.0 system. This represents a significant security risk because the application's administrative interface would be directly accessible to unauthorized users who can manipulate the session file paths through crafted cookie values. The exploitation process involves crafting a malicious sessionId cookie value that contains directory traversal sequences such as ../../../../../etc/passwd or similar patterns that would allow access to sensitive files or alternate session files. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting, as it enables unauthorized access to administrative privileges through manipulated session data. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and inadequate access controls within the session management subsystem, where the application should have implemented proper sanitization of cookie values and enforced strict path validation to prevent arbitrary file access. The flaw suggests that the application's session handling code does not properly implement security measures such as canonicalization of file paths, validation against a whitelist of acceptable paths, or enforcement of directory boundaries. This vulnerability essentially undermines the fundamental security model of the application by allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls through manipulation of session identifiers. The implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe given that Cobalt Qube 3.0 is a security testing platform, meaning that unauthorized access could provide attackers with the ability to compromise the integrity of security assessments or gain access to sensitive security-related information. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper session management practices, including the implementation of secure cookie attributes, proper session file handling, and input validation at all points where user-supplied data is processed. Organizations using Cobalt Qube 3.0 should immediately implement mitigations including patching the application to address the directory traversal vulnerability, implementing proper input validation for cookie parameters, and ensuring that session files are stored in secure directories with appropriate access controls. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of suspicious cookie values should be implemented to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure session management and input validation in web applications, particularly those handling administrative functions or sensitive data. The lack of proper path validation in session handling mechanisms represents a fundamental security flaw that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to privileged functions within web applications. The specific nature of this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in input validation can lead to significant security consequences, particularly when combined with the ability to manipulate session identifiers to gain administrative access to the application. Proper implementation of security controls including input sanitization, path validation, and secure session management practices are essential to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments.