CVE-2005-3123 in GNUMP3D
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in GNUMP3D before 2.9.6 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via crafted sequences such as "/.//..//////././", which is collapsed into "/.././" after ".." and "//" sequences are removed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3123 represents a directory traversal flaw in the GNUMP3D media server software prior to version 2.9.6. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of path traversal attacks that have been consistently documented in cybersecurity literature and classified under CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and path normalization mechanisms within the application's file handling routines.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the way GNUMP3D processes file paths containing special sequences such as "/.//..//////././". The application fails to properly sanitize these paths before attempting to access files on the underlying filesystem. When the malformed path sequence is processed, the system collapses it into "/.././" after removing redundant ".." and "//" components, effectively allowing attackers to navigate to parent directories and access files outside the intended media library scope. This occurs because the application does not implement proper path canonicalization or validation routines that would prevent such traversal attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the server hosting GNUMP3D. An attacker could potentially read sensitive configuration files, system files, user data, or even credentials stored in accessible locations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries attempt to enumerate file systems to identify valuable targets. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require local system access, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for networked media servers that may be exposed to the internet.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2005-3123 involves upgrading to GNUMP3D version 2.9.6 or later, which includes proper input validation and path normalization routines. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as restricting file access permissions, implementing proper input sanitization at multiple layers, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious path traversal patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper path validation and input sanitization in preventing unauthorized access to system resources, a principle that remains fundamental to secure coding practices and is consistently referenced in industry security frameworks including the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.