CVE-2005-1239 in Security
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the third party tool from Raz-Lee, as used to secure the iSeries AS/400 FTP server, allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files, including those from qsys.lib, via ".." sequences in a GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1239 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within a third-party security tool developed by Raz-Lee for protecting IBM iSeries AS/400 FTP servers. This security weakness specifically affects the implementation of file access controls within the tool's FTP service protection mechanism, creating a significant exposure that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and path resolution within the tool's handling of FTP GET requests, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file access through specially crafted directory traversal sequences.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of file path references using double dot sequences ".." within GET requests sent to the FTP server. When the Raz-Lee security tool processes these requests, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the directory traversal components, enabling attackers to navigate beyond the intended file access boundaries. This flaw specifically impacts the qsys.lib directory structure, which contains critical system libraries and resources that are typically protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to bypass the intended access controls and retrieve files that should remain restricted, potentially exposing sensitive system information, configuration data, and operational resources.
The operational impact of this directory traversal vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access to encompass potential system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can access system libraries, configuration files, and potentially sensitive operational data stored within the qsys.lib namespace, which may contain information about system architecture, user credentials, or other confidential details. The exposure of these resources can lead to further exploitation opportunities, including privilege escalation, system enumeration, and the potential for more sophisticated attacks targeting the underlying iSeries AS/400 infrastructure. This vulnerability effectively undermines the security posture of organizations relying on the Raz-Lee tool for FTP server protection, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited without requiring local system access or elevated privileges.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying available patches from the vendor Raz-Lee, implementing network segmentation to limit access to FTP services, and deploying additional access controls to restrict FTP server functionality. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Directory Traversal and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery, representing a common attack pattern that leverages improper input validation to access restricted system resources. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual FTP access patterns, particularly those involving directory traversal sequences, and implementing proper input validation controls at the network perimeter to prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their iSeries environments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other third-party security tools and applications that may be susceptible to similar directory traversal attacks.