CVE-2005-1090 in Maxthon
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the readFile and writeFile API for Maxthon 1.2.0 and 1.2.1 allows remote attackers to read or write arbitrary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2018
The directory traversal vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1090 affects Maxthon web browser versions 1.2.0 and 1.2.1, representing a critical security flaw in the application's file handling mechanisms. This vulnerability resides within the readFile and writeFile Application Programming Interfaces that are part of the browser's core functionality, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to access or modify files outside the intended directory structure. The flaw fundamentally undermines the security boundaries that should protect the browser's file system operations from unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to compromise the underlying operating system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the file access functions, specifically failing to properly sanitize or filter user-supplied paths before processing file operations. When Maxthon processes file read or write requests through its API, it does not sufficiently validate the absolute or relative paths provided by external sources, allowing attackers to manipulate the file system access through crafted path sequences containing directory traversal characters such as '../'. This weakness enables attackers to navigate beyond the intended file access boundaries and potentially access sensitive system files, configuration data, or user documents that should remain protected from unauthorized access. The 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 attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks within the compromised system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to read sensitive files such as browser cookies, saved passwords, configuration files, or even system-level information that could be used for privilege escalation or further exploitation. The ability to write arbitrary files opens additional attack vectors where malicious code or configuration changes could be injected into the system, potentially leading to persistent access or complete system compromise. This vulnerability affects the browser's integrity and confidentiality, as it allows unauthorized access to user data and system resources that should remain protected. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Maxthon was a popular browser at the time, increasing the potential impact of exploitation across a significant user base.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected versions, as the most effective solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Maxthon that properly validates and sanitizes file paths before processing. Organizations should implement network-based restrictions that prevent access to potentially malicious file operations and monitor for unusual file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper input validation and path sanitization within the application's file handling functions represents the core fix required to address this vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any potential compromise from exploitation and ensure that appropriate access controls are in place to limit the damage from successful attacks. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage, where attackers might leverage such vulnerabilities to execute unauthorized file operations and gain deeper system access.