CVE-2004-1742 in WebAPP
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in WebAPP 0.9.9 allows remote attackers to view arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the viewcat parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1742 represents a classic directory traversal flaw within the WebAPP 0.9.9 web application framework. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters before processing them within the application's file system operations. The specific vulnerability manifests when the application processes the viewcat parameter without sufficient sanitization, allowing malicious actors to exploit this gap through the use of directory traversal sequences such as .. which enables navigation outside the intended directory structure. The flaw directly enables attackers to craft malicious requests that can access files and directories beyond the web application's designated boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive system information, configuration files, or even system-level resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. This flaw operates by manipulating the viewcat parameter to include sequences that instruct the web server to traverse up the directory hierarchy, effectively bypassing normal access controls and file system restrictions. When the web application processes these malformed parameters, it concatenates the user input directly into file system paths without proper validation or sanitization, creating an exploitable condition where arbitrary file access becomes possible. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires minimal input manipulation to achieve significant information disclosure, making it particularly attractive to attackers seeking to gather sensitive data from compromised systems.
From an operational perspective, this directory traversal vulnerability poses substantial risks to organizations deploying WebAPP 0.9.9, as it can lead to unauthorized access to critical system files, user data, and application configurations. Attackers can leverage this weakness to access database connection strings, application credentials, server configuration files, and potentially sensitive business data stored within the application's file system. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or physical proximity to exploit the flaw, making it a particularly dangerous weakness in networked environments. According to ATT&CK framework's T1083 technique, adversaries can use such vulnerabilities to discover files and directories, while T1213 focuses on data from information repositories, which directly relates to the potential exposure of sensitive data through this traversal mechanism.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1742 should prioritize immediate input validation and sanitization measures within the web application's codebase. Organizations must implement proper parameter validation that rejects or strips out directory traversal sequences such as .., %2e%2e, and other equivalent representations before processing user input. The application should enforce strict path validation that ensures all file system operations occur within predetermined safe directories, utilizing techniques such as canonicalization checks and absolute path resolution to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation mechanisms can help minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security patches or updates to WebAPP 0.9.9 should be prioritized, and organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls or intrusion prevention systems that can detect and block suspicious traversal patterns in network traffic. Regular security auditing and code reviews focusing on input validation practices can help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application infrastructure, reducing the overall attack surface and improving defensive posture against similar directory traversal threats.