CVE-2005-1874 in Directory
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Dzip before 2.9 allows remote attackers to create arbitrary files via a filename containing a .. (dot dot) in a .dz archive.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2019
The directory traversal vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1874 affects the Dzip compression utility version 2.8 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate file creation processes within .dz archive files. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the archive extraction mechanism, specifically when processing filenames containing the .. (dot dot) sequence that indicates parent directory references. The flaw allows adversaries to bypass normal file system access controls and potentially overwrite existing system files or create unauthorized files in arbitrary locations within the target system's file hierarchy.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper handling of path traversal sequences during archive extraction operations. When Dzip processes a .dz archive containing filenames with .. components, the utility fails to sanitize these path references before creating files on the target filesystem. This inadequate validation creates a condition where attacker-controlled input can influence the absolute path where extracted files are written, effectively allowing the creation of files outside the intended extraction directory. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by remote attackers without authentication.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to system integrity and security posture. Attackers can exploit this flaw to create malicious files in system directories, potentially leading to privilege escalation scenarios or the deployment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability can be particularly damaging when Dzip is used in web applications or automated systems where user-supplied archive files are processed without proper sanitization. The ability to write arbitrary files opens doors for various attack vectors including the creation of malicious executables, configuration file modifications, or the establishment of covert communication channels that could compromise the entire system or network.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses path traversal or directory traversal flaws in software systems, and demonstrates how inadequate input validation can lead to unauthorized file system access. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving file and directory permissions modification and privilege escalation, as attackers can manipulate file creation processes to gain elevated system access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Dzip version 2.9 or later, which contains the necessary patch to address the path traversal issue. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict file extraction permissions, implement proper input validation for archive processing, and consider deploying network segmentation to limit potential attack surface. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and input sanitization in preventing directory traversal attacks, particularly in applications that handle user-supplied data or external file formats.