CVE-2003-1345 in Webcollection Plus
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in s.dll in WebCollection Plus 5.00 allows remote attackers to view arbitrary files in c:\ via a full pathname in the d parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1345 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the WebCollection Plus 5.00 web application framework. This weakness resides in the s.dll component which processes user input through the d parameter, enabling malicious actors to exploit improper input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of full pathnames, allowing remote attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure and potentially retrieve sensitive information from the c:\ drive. Such directory traversal vulnerabilities fall under the category of CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is a fundamental security issue in web applications that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied input before using it in file system operations. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input sanitization and path validation that has been documented as a persistent weakness in web applications for decades.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the web application's failure to properly validate and sanitize the d parameter input before processing it as a file path. When a user submits a request containing a full pathname in the d parameter, the application directly uses this input to construct file system paths without adequate sanitization or validation checks. This allows attackers to manipulate the path by including directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate outside the intended directory boundaries and access arbitrary files on the server's file system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the file system level, potentially allowing access to system configuration files, database files, application source code, and other sensitive data stored on the c:\ drive. The attack vector is entirely remote, requiring no local system access or authentication, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to exploit the system without direct access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the ability to potentially escalate their privileges and gain deeper access to the compromised system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could access sensitive configuration files that might contain database credentials, application secrets, or other authentication tokens. Additionally, the ability to read arbitrary files could expose the underlying application architecture, potentially revealing implementation details that could be leveraged for further attacks. This vulnerability aligns with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 - File and Directory Discovery tactic, where adversaries seek to identify file systems and locate sensitive information. The impact is particularly severe in environments where web applications are not properly isolated or where the web server has elevated privileges that could allow access to system-critical files.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the affected web application. The most effective approach involves implementing strict input validation that rejects any path components containing directory traversal sequences or absolute paths. The application should enforce a whitelist approach for acceptable file paths and ensure that all user-supplied input is properly escaped or encoded before being used in file system operations. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and least privilege principles, ensuring that web applications operate with minimal necessary permissions on the file system. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack. The remediation process should include implementing proper error handling that does not reveal system file paths or internal directory structures to users, as this information could aid in further exploitation attempts. Security patches should be applied immediately to address this vulnerability, as the window of opportunity for exploitation remains open until the underlying code is properly secured against improper input handling and path traversal attacks.