CVE-2006-5570 in CruiseWorks
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in /scripts/cruise/cws.exe in CruiseWorks 1.09c and 1.09d allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the doc parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5570 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the CruiseWorks web application version 1.09c and 1.09d. This security weakness resides in the /scripts/cruise/cws.exe component which fails to properly validate user-supplied input parameters. The specific vulnerability manifests when the application processes the doc parameter without adequate sanitization, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file paths through the use of directory traversal sequences. This flaw enables unauthorized access to sensitive system files that should remain protected from external inspection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which categorizes directory traversal attacks as a fundamental weakness in input validation. The flaw operates by accepting user input through the doc parameter and directly incorporating it into file system operations without proper path validation or canonicalization. When an attacker supplies a path containing .. (dot dot) sequences, the application processes these traversal characters, effectively allowing access to parent directories in the file system hierarchy. This enables attackers to navigate beyond the intended application directory and access arbitrary files on the server, potentially including configuration files, database credentials, or system binaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive data that may contain authentication credentials, application configuration details, or system-level information. The remote nature of this attack means that adversaries do not require local system access or physical presence to exploit the vulnerability. This makes the flaw particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from any network location, potentially allowing attackers to gather intelligence for further exploitation or directly access confidential data. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the web application's data protection mechanisms, undermining the security posture of systems running affected versions of CruiseWorks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of input validation and sanitization measures within the affected application. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied parameters are properly validated before being processed in file system operations, with strict enforcement of path validation that prevents directory traversal sequences from being interpreted. The application should implement canonical path resolution that normalizes all file paths and rejects any input containing traversal sequences. Additionally, access controls should be implemented to restrict the application's ability to access sensitive system directories, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper access control mechanisms as outlined in the mitre attack framework, where such flaws often serve as initial access vectors for more sophisticated attacks.