CVE-2004-2369 in Lotus Domino
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in webadmin.nsf for Lotus Domino R6 6.5.1 allows attackers to create and detect directories via a .. (dot dot) in the directory creation command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2369 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Lotus Domino R6 6.5.1 web administration interface component known as webadmin.nsf. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied directory paths before processing directory creation commands. The vulnerability specifically manifests when attackers exploit the .. (dot dot) sequence in directory creation requests, enabling them to manipulate the file system traversal behavior of the Domino server.
This directory traversal vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, which classifies path traversal attacks as a fundamental weakness in input validation and access control mechanisms. The flaw allows attackers to bypass normal file system access controls and potentially create arbitrary directories within the Domino server's file system hierarchy. The exploitation occurs through the webadmin.nsf component's insufficient validation of directory paths, enabling attackers to traverse up the directory tree using the standard .. notation that is typically restricted in secure file system operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple directory traversal capabilities. Attackers can leverage this weakness to create malicious directories that may serve as staging areas for further attacks, potentially leading to unauthorized file system access, privilege escalation, or even complete system compromise. The ability to detect existing directories through this vulnerability also provides attackers with reconnaissance capabilities, allowing them to map the target system's file structure and identify sensitive areas that may contain confidential data or system configuration files. This reconnaissance capability significantly increases the risk profile of the vulnerability by enabling more sophisticated attack vectors.
The attack surface for this vulnerability primarily affects Lotus Domino servers running version 6.5.1 with the webadmin.nsf component enabled. The exploitation requires minimal privileges since the vulnerability exists within the web administration interface, which is typically accessible to users with basic administrative permissions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1083 technique for discovering system information and T1566 for credential access through exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. Organizations running affected versions of Lotus Domino should prioritize patching or implementing immediate mitigations to prevent unauthorized directory creation and access.
Mitigation strategies should include applying the official IBM security patches released for Lotus Domino R6 6.5.1, which address the directory traversal vulnerability in webadmin.nsf. Additionally, administrators should implement network segmentation to restrict access to the web administration interface, employ web application firewalls to filter suspicious directory traversal attempts, and conduct regular security audits of the Domino server's file system permissions. The implementation of proper input validation mechanisms and the restriction of administrative access to trusted users only will significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider disabling the webadmin.nsf component if it is not essential for their operations, as this provides an additional layer of defense against such directory traversal attacks that could otherwise be leveraged for more sophisticated compromise techniques.