CVE-2005-3323 in Zope
Summary
by MITRE
docutils in Zope 2.6, 2.7 before 2.7.8, and 2.8 before 2.8.2 allows remote attackers to include arbitrary files via include directives in RestructuredText functionality.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3323 represents a critical file inclusion flaw within the docutils component of Zope application server versions 2.6, 2.7 before 2.7.8, and 2.8 before 2.8.2. This issue specifically affects the RestructuredText processing functionality that allows users to include external files within their documentation content. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that permit attackers to manipulate include directives to reference arbitrary files on the server filesystem. When the RestructuredText parser processes these malicious include directives, it fails to properly validate the file paths, potentially leading to unauthorized file access and inclusion attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the RestructuredText markup language's include directive functionality which is designed to incorporate external content into documentation. Attackers can craft malicious RestructuredText documents containing include directives that point to sensitive system files such as configuration files, password databases, or system binaries. The vulnerability falls under CWE-98 which categorizes improper input validation allowing for path traversal and file inclusion attacks. When the Zope application processes these documents, the docutils library does not adequately sanitize the file paths specified in include directives, enabling attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially read arbitrary files from the server's filesystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations running affected Zope versions as it provides remote attackers with the capability to extract sensitive information from the application server. An attacker could potentially access configuration files containing database credentials, application secrets, or other confidential data stored on the server. The vulnerability also creates potential for further exploitation as attackers might be able to include and execute system binaries or scripts, leading to arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which describes the use of remote code execution capabilities, and T1083 which involves discovering files and directories, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Zope applications often handle sensitive data processing.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of Zope 2.7.8 or 2.8.2 to remediate this vulnerability. The patch addresses the insufficient input validation in the docutils library by implementing proper path sanitization and validation for include directives. Additionally, administrators should implement proper access controls and input validation at multiple layers including web application firewalls, content filtering mechanisms, and application-level restrictions on file inclusion functionality. Network segmentation and monitoring of file access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of validating all user-supplied input and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to prevent path traversal attacks that could compromise entire server infrastructures through seemingly benign documentation processing features.