CVE-2006-0319 in Farmers WIFE
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the FTP server (port 22003/tcp) in Farmers WIFE 4.4 SP1 allows remote attackers to create arbitrary files via ".." (dot dot) sequences in a (1) PUT, (2) SIZE, and possibly other commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-0319 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the FTP server component of Farmers WIFE 4.4 SP1 operating on port 22003/tcp. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied file paths containing ".." sequences. The vulnerability specifically affects multiple FTP commands including PUT and SIZE operations, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by remote threat actors. Directory traversal vulnerabilities of this nature allow attackers to manipulate file system access patterns and potentially gain unauthorized control over system resources. The flaw enables malicious users to navigate beyond intended directories and create files in arbitrary locations, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the file system boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the server's failure to properly validate and normalize file paths submitted through FTP commands. When users submit commands containing ".." sequences, the system does not adequately filter or resolve these path traversal attempts, allowing the attacker to bypass normal file access controls. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. The root cause lies in the absence of proper path normalization and validation routines that should strip or reject potentially dangerous path components. The vulnerability affects not only the PUT command where files are created but also the SIZE command which retrieves file information, indicating a broader impact across multiple FTP operations. This widespread applicability suggests that the underlying input validation mechanism is insufficiently implemented across the entire FTP server protocol implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file creation to potentially enable complete system compromise. Attackers could leverage this weakness to overwrite critical system files, inject malicious code into the file system, or establish persistent backdoors through file creation in strategic locations. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access or local system credentials to exploit the vulnerability. This makes the attack vector particularly dangerous as it can be executed from any network location with access to port 22003. The potential for privilege escalation exists if the FTP service operates with elevated permissions, allowing attackers to modify system-critical files and potentially gain root or administrative access. Network security monitoring should specifically watch for unusual file creation patterns or path traversal attempts that could indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the Farmers WIFE software to the latest available version that addresses the directory traversal flaw. System administrators should implement network segmentation to restrict access to port 22003 where possible and ensure that only authorized users can reach the FTP service. Network access control lists should be configured to limit exposure of this service to trusted networks only. Input validation mechanisms must be strengthened to properly sanitize all user-supplied file paths and reject any sequences containing ".." or similar traversal indicators. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious FTP commands that attempt path traversal operations, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. The implementation of file system access controls should ensure that the FTP service operates with minimal required privileges, following the principle of least privilege. Regular security audits of FTP configurations should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other network services that may be susceptible to the same class of attack patterns.