CVE-2005-1908 in LiteWeb
Summary
by MITRE
Perception LiteWeb allows remote attackers to bypass access controls for files via an extra leading / (slash) or leading \ (backslash) in the URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1908 affects Perception LiteWeb, a web server implementation that fails to properly validate URL paths containing leading slashes or backslashes. This flaw represents a classic path traversal vulnerability that allows unauthorized access to files outside the intended web root directory. The issue stems from inadequate input sanitization where the web server does not properly normalize or validate the URL path components before processing file requests.
This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. The technical mechanism involves the web server's failure to canonicalize file paths properly when they contain leading directory separators. When an attacker crafts a URL with an extra leading slash or backslash such as //etc/passwd or \..\..\etc\passwd, the server may interpret these paths incorrectly and allow access to restricted files. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass directory access controls by manipulating the path resolution logic within the web server implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote attackers to perform unauthorized file access operations without authentication. Attackers can potentially access sensitive system files, configuration data, or other restricted resources that should be protected from public access. This includes accessing system configuration files, user data, application source code, or other confidential information that may contain credentials or other sensitive material. The vulnerability can be exploited from any remote location without requiring prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where web servers are exposed to the internet.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of mitigation for this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves updating the Perception LiteWeb software to the latest available version that contains proper path validation and normalization. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at the web server level can prevent malformed URLs from being processed. Network-based mitigations include deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious path traversal patterns. Organizations should also enforce proper access controls and file permissions, ensuring that web server processes run with minimal required privileges. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, highlighting the need for comprehensive security measures including regular vulnerability assessments and security monitoring to detect exploitation attempts.