CVE-2005-0184 in Vacation plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in ftpfile in the Vacation plugin 0.15 and earlier for Squirrelmail allows local users to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in a get request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0184 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Vacation plugin version 0.15 and earlier for the Squirrelmail web-based email client. This weakness resides in the ftpfile component of the plugin and specifically affects local users who can exploit the vulnerability through carefully crafted get requests containing dot dot sequences. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and path sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's file handling routines, allowing attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and access files outside the plugin's designated scope.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability operates through the manipulation of file path resolution mechanisms within the Squirrelmail Vacation plugin. When a user makes a get request containing directory traversal sequences such as .. or similar constructs, the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before processing file operations. This allows the attacker to traverse the filesystem hierarchy and access arbitrary files on the server that should otherwise be restricted. The vulnerability specifically targets the ftpfile functionality which handles file operations related to vacation message storage and retrieval, making it particularly dangerous as it could potentially expose sensitive configuration files, user data, or system information.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations using vulnerable versions of Squirrelmail with the affected Vacation plugin. Local attackers who already have access to the system can leverage this weakness to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive files that may contain authentication credentials, system configurations, user information, or other confidential data. The vulnerability's local nature means that attackers do not require external network access or complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly concerning for environments where local access is not strictly controlled. The potential for information disclosure and privilege escalation makes this vulnerability a serious concern for system administrators managing email services.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. This classification aligns with the fundamental flaw in input validation and path resolution within the plugin's ftpfile component. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing with Malicious Attachment) as attackers might use the information gained from file access to craft more sophisticated social engineering attacks or to further compromise the system. Additionally, the vulnerability could contribute to T1505 (Server-side Request Forgery) if the plugin's file handling routines are later exploited in more complex attack chains.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from system administrators, including upgrading to Squirrelmail versions that contain patched versions of the Vacation plugin or applying the appropriate security patches released by the Squirrelmail development team. Organizations should implement strict input validation mechanisms and ensure that all file path operations properly sanitize user inputs to prevent directory traversal attacks. The principle of least privilege should be enforced, limiting local access to system resources and ensuring that only authorized personnel have the necessary permissions to interact with sensitive system components. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other plugins or components of the email infrastructure. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect and alert on suspicious file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.