CVE-2005-2357 in Navisphere Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in EMC Navisphere Manager 6.4.1.0.0 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2357 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within EMC Navisphere Manager version 6.4.1.0.0, a widely used storage management software solution. This weakness enables remote attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure through manipulation of Uniform Resource Locator parameters. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input in URL paths, allowing malicious actors to navigate beyond the designated file system boundaries.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs at the application layer where input validation mechanisms are insufficient to prevent path traversal sequences such as .. (dot dot) from being processed directly within the URL. When an attacker crafts a malicious request containing directory traversal sequences, the application interprets these sequences as legitimate navigation commands rather than malicious input, resulting in unauthorized file access. This represents a classic path traversal vulnerability that falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, also known as path traversal or directory traversal.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially administrative credentials stored within the application's file system. Attackers can exploit this weakness to read critical files such as system configuration parameters, user authentication data, or even application source code, which could lead to further exploitation opportunities. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the application is exposed to external traffic.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the tactic of Credential Access and Defense Evasion, as it enables attackers to obtain sensitive information that could be used for privilege escalation or persistent access. The exploitation process typically involves crafting HTTP requests with encoded or decoded directory traversal sequences that bypass normal access controls. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability was particularly concerning in enterprise storage environments where Navisphere Manager was commonly deployed, as it could provide unauthorized access to critical storage infrastructure management data.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all URL parameters, deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block traversal attempts, and application-level restrictions that prevent access to sensitive system directories. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in enterprise applications, particularly those managing sensitive infrastructure components. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications, as path traversal vulnerabilities remain prevalent in legacy systems and are often overlooked during initial security reviews.