CVE-2006-5963 in PentaZip
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in PentaZip 8.5.1.190 and PentaSuite-PRO 8.5.1.221 allows user-assisted remote attackers to extract files to arbitrary pathnames via a ../ (dot dot slash) in a filename.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5963 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting PentaZip 8.5.1.190 and PentaSuite-PRO 8.5.1.221 software applications. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the file extraction routines, specifically failing to properly sanitize filename parameters that contain directory traversal sequences. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22 as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory," which is a fundamental security issue that has plagued software systems for decades. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious archive files containing filenames with ../ sequences that manipulate the extraction process to write files outside of the intended target directory.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the affected software processes compressed archive files without properly validating or sanitizing the pathname components within file entries. When a user extracts an archive containing a filename such as ../../etc/passwd or ../../../windows/system32/cmd.exe, the application fails to restrict the extraction path to the designated destination folder. Instead, it interprets the directory traversal sequences and creates or overwrites files at arbitrary locations on the filesystem, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data corruption, or system compromise. This behavior violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized file system modifications.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file system manipulation to encompass broader security implications for affected systems. The user-assisted remote nature of the attack means that exploitation requires some level of user interaction, typically through social engineering or phishing campaigns to convince victims to open maliciously crafted archive files. However, the potential for privilege escalation exists when the vulnerable application runs with elevated permissions, allowing attackers to write malicious executables to system directories or overwrite critical system files. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" when attackers leverage the ability to place malicious payloads in system directories, and T1078 for "Valid Accounts" when the application's execution context provides elevated privileges for file system modifications.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-5963 primarily focus on immediate software updates and implementation of robust input validation controls. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of PentaZip and PentaSuite-PRO software, as the vulnerability was addressed through proper pathname sanitization and directory traversal sequence validation. Additionally, system administrators should implement restrictive file extraction policies, disable unnecessary archive extraction capabilities, and employ network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security controls, particularly focusing on preventing path traversal attacks through proper parameter validation and access control enforcement. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious file creation patterns and extraction activities from untrusted sources, as this vulnerability represents a common attack vector that has been consistently exploited in various software applications over the years.