CVE-2005-1242 in Global Security
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the third party tool from Bsafe, 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 • 07/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1242 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within a third-party security tool developed by Bsafe for protecting IBM iSeries AS/400 FTP servers. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data containing directory navigation sequences. The vulnerability specifically affects the Bsafe tool implementation that secures AS/400 systems, creating a significant security gap that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication credentials. The flaw exists at the application layer where the tool processes FTP GET requests, allowing malicious users to manipulate file access paths through the use of double dot sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the Bsafe tool processes user requests containing .. sequences in file paths, failing to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before executing file access operations. This allows attackers to traverse the file system hierarchy and access files that should remain protected, including those located within the sensitive qsys.lib directory structure which contains critical system objects and data. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level of FTP operations, where the tool does not properly enforce access controls or path validation when processing GET requests. This flaw aligns with 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 CVE-2005-1242 is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to potentially sensitive system data and configuration files. The ability to access qsys.lib directory contents exposes critical system components including database files, system libraries, and potentially confidential business data stored within the AS/400 environment. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to extract system information, modify critical files, or gain deeper insights into the system architecture. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the iSeries AS/400 systems, as it bypasses the intended security controls designed to protect sensitive system resources. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or legitimate credentials.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows patterns consistent with the attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 technique for discovering system information and T1566 for credential harvesting through network attacks. Organizations using affected Bsafe implementations face significant risk of data breaches and system compromise, particularly in environments where AS/400 systems handle sensitive financial or operational data. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple system versions and configurations makes it particularly dangerous as it affects a wide range of deployments. Security professionals should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while also ensuring that all systems are updated to versions that properly address this directory traversal vulnerability. The remediation process requires immediate patching of the Bsafe tool and implementation of proper input validation controls to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future deployments.