CVE-2004-1814 in VGW4-8 Telephony Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in VocalTec VGW4/8 Gateway 8.0 allows remote attackers to read protected files via .. (dot dot) sequences in an HTTP request, as demonstrated using home.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1814 represents a classic directory traversal flaw affecting the VocalTec VGW4/8 Gateway version 8.0. This security weakness resides in the gateway's web interface handling of HTTP requests, specifically when processing directory navigation sequences. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to access files that should normally be protected or restricted, by exploiting improper input validation mechanisms within the web server component. The issue manifests when the system fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input containing dot-dot sequences that are typically used to navigate up directory levels in file systems. This particular vulnerability was demonstrated using the home.asp file, indicating that the flaw affects web-based administrative interfaces that serve dynamic content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the gateway's failure to properly validate and sanitize HTTP request parameters before processing file access requests. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request containing directory traversal sequences such as ..%2F or similar encoded variations, the web server processes these requests without sufficient validation, allowing access to files outside the intended web root directory. This weakness falls under the CWE-22 category of Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as Path Traversal. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal file system access controls and retrieve sensitive information from the device's file system, potentially including configuration files, user credentials, or other confidential data that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1814 extends beyond simple file access, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for further exploitation within the network infrastructure. Since the VocalTec VGW4/8 Gateway serves as a telecommunications device managing voice and data communications, unauthorized access to its file system could enable attackers to extract configuration data that might reveal network topology, user accounts, or other sensitive operational information. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the device or network credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where such gateways may be exposed to external networks. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing with Malicious Attachments) as it enables attackers to discover and access files that could contain credentials or other sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web server component of the gateway. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input containing directory traversal sequences are properly filtered or rejected before processing file access requests. The most effective remediation involves implementing a whitelist approach for valid file paths and ensuring that the web server component properly resolves all file access requests to prevent directory traversal attacks. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of such devices to untrusted networks. Regular security assessments and firmware updates should be conducted to address similar vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices, as this type of flaw has been consistently identified in various network appliances and web applications throughout the telecommunications industry. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper input validation as outlined in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines.