CVE-2005-4202 in LogiSphere
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in LogiSphere 0.9.9j allow remote attackers to access arbitrary files via (1) .. (dot dot), (2) "..." (triple dot), and (3) "..//" sequences in the URL, (4) "../" sequences in the source parameter to viewsource.jsp, or (5) "..\" (dot dot backslash) sequences in the NS-query-pat paramter to the search URL. URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4202 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting LogiSphere 0.9.9j software, which falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote exploitation where attackers can manipulate URL parameters to access arbitrary files on the server filesystem. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, particularly in URL parsing mechanisms that fail to properly restrict file access paths. Attackers can leverage multiple variants of directory traversal sequences including standard double dot notation, triple dot variations, forward slash combinations, and backslash-based traversal attempts to bypass normal access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture where path resolution logic does not adequately validate or sanitize input parameters before processing file requests. When the application processes URLs containing traversal sequences such as "..", ".../", "../", or "..\", it fails to properly normalize or validate these paths, allowing attackers to navigate outside the intended directory structure. The specific parameters mentioned in the vulnerability - source parameter to viewsource.jsp, and NS-query-pat parameter in search URLs - represent different entry points where the same traversal flaw exists, indicating a systemic issue in how the application handles file path resolution across multiple components. This type of vulnerability directly enables attackers to access sensitive files including configuration data, source code, database files, and potentially system-level information that should remain protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to the underlying file system, potentially exposing sensitive data, application source code, configuration files, and other system resources. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications. This vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries attempt to enumerate files and directories to understand the system structure. Successful exploitation could lead to data breaches, system compromise, and potentially full system control if sensitive configuration files or credentials are accessible through the traversal paths. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and confidentiality, as it allows unauthorized information disclosure that could expose business-critical data or intellectual property.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The most effective approach involves implementing strict path validation that normalizes all user-supplied paths and rejects any sequences that attempt to traverse outside the intended directory structure. Applications should employ absolute path resolution with proper access controls and avoid direct concatenation of user input with file paths. Security measures should include input filtering that removes or encodes potentially dangerous sequences including dots, slashes, and backslashes in URL parameters. Additionally, implementing a whitelist-based approach that only allows specific, pre-approved file access patterns can prevent unauthorized traversal attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing proper logging and monitoring of file access attempts to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. The fix should align with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and should be part of a comprehensive application security testing program that includes static code analysis, dynamic application security testing, and regular vulnerability assessments to prevent similar issues in other components of the system.