CVE-2005-0213 in WinHKI
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in WinHKI 1.4d allows remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in a zip file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2018
The directory traversal vulnerability identified in WinHKI 1.4d represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate file operations within the application's decompression functionality. This vulnerability specifically manifests when processing zip files containing directory traversal sequences using the .. (dot dot) notation, allowing unauthorized file system access and modification. The flaw resides in how the application handles path resolution during zip file extraction, creating an opportunity for attackers to bypass normal file access controls and target arbitrary locations within the system's file hierarchy.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. The technical implementation flaw occurs in the file extraction logic where WinHKI fails to properly sanitize or validate file paths contained within zip archives before writing them to disk. When a malicious zip file contains entries with .. sequences in their paths, the application processes these paths without adequate validation, potentially allowing the extraction to occur outside the intended target directory. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to overwrite critical system files, modify application data, or even inject malicious code into the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwrites to encompass potential system compromise and data integrity breaches. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to modify configuration files, replace executable components, or inject malicious payloads into the system, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The vulnerability affects any system running WinHKI 1.4d where zip file extraction is enabled, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users can upload or process untrusted zip archives. Attackers can craft malicious zip files containing carefully constructed paths that traverse up the directory tree and overwrite files in sensitive locations, including system directories, application binaries, or critical configuration files.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security gap and implement broader defensive measures. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to a patched version of WinHKI that properly validates and sanitizes file paths during zip extraction operations. Organizations should implement strict input validation for all file operations, particularly when processing untrusted archives, ensuring that extracted paths are normalized and checked against acceptable directories. Additionally, deploying file system access controls and implementing principle of least privilege can limit the damage potential of successful exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for execution through command and scripting interpreter and T1074 for data staging, highlighting the need for comprehensive monitoring of file system changes and extraction activities. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in environments where zip file processing is required.