CVE-2005-4376 in Amaxus
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Amaxus 3 and earlier allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files via ".." sequences in the change parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2018
The CVE-2005-4376 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting Amaxus version 3 and earlier systems, demonstrating a fundamental security weakness in input validation and file access controls. This vulnerability specifically targets the change parameter within the application's file handling mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to exploit improperly sanitized user input to navigate beyond intended directory boundaries. The flaw stems from the application's failure to adequately validate or sanitize path traversal sequences, particularly the ".." (dot-dot) notation commonly used to move up directory levels in file systems. When attackers submit crafted ".." sequences through the change parameter, the application processes these inputs without proper validation, enabling unauthorized access to files outside the designated application directories.
This directory traversal vulnerability operates at the core of web application security principles and directly relates to CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. The technical implementation of this flaw involves the application's file resolution logic failing to properly canonicalize or sanitize user-supplied paths before processing file access requests. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely, eliminating the need for local system access or authentication, which significantly increases its attack surface and potential impact. Attackers can leverage this weakness to access sensitive files including configuration data, user credentials, application source code, and other confidential information stored on the server.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-4376 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other vulnerabilities or attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially read system files, access administrative interfaces, or even execute arbitrary code if the application runs with elevated privileges. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing), as attackers often use directory traversal to gather intelligence about target systems before launching more sophisticated attacks. The remote exploit capability means that this vulnerability can be leveraged from any network location, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4376 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The primary fix involves implementing robust input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file access operations. Applications should reject or normalize path traversal sequences, ensuring that any ".." or similar constructs are either stripped from input or properly resolved within safe directory boundaries. Organizations should implement proper access controls and privilege separation, ensuring that applications run with minimal required permissions and that file access is restricted to specific, authorized directories. Additionally, regular security testing including penetration testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability serves as a classic example of why defense-in-depth strategies are essential, as simple input validation can prevent many common attack patterns that target application logic flaws.