CVE-2006-6514 in Winamp Web Interface
Summary
by MITRE
Winamp Web Interface (Wawi) 7.5.13 and earlier uses an insufficient comparison to determine whether a directory is located below the application s root directory, which allows remote authenticated users to access certain other directories if the name of the root directory is a substring of the name of the target directory, as demonstrated by accessing C:\folder2 when the root directory is C:\folder.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6514 affects the Winamp Web Interface (Wawi) version 7.5.13 and earlier implementations, representing a critical security flaw in directory traversal protection mechanisms. This issue stems from an insufficient comparison algorithm that fails to properly validate whether requested directories exist within the application's designated root directory boundaries. The flaw specifically manifests when the root directory name becomes a substring of the target directory name, creating a condition where legitimate access controls are bypassed through carefully crafted directory paths.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a fundamental weakness in path validation logic where string comparison operations do not adequately verify directory hierarchy integrity. When the root directory is set to a path such as C:folder, an attacker can manipulate requests to access directories like C:folder2 by leveraging the substring relationship between the root directory name and the target directory name. This comparison flaw allows the web interface to incorrectly permit access to directories that should remain restricted, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries that protect against unauthorized file system access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote authenticated users to gain unauthorized access to sensitive directories and potentially execute malicious activities within the compromised system. The impact extends beyond simple file access, as attackers could potentially read configuration files, access user data, or even escalate privileges within the application environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates through legitimate authentication mechanisms, meaning that only authenticated users with valid credentials can exploit this weakness, making detection more challenging in typical security monitoring scenarios.
The security implications align with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as directory traversal or path traversal attacks. This classification indicates that the vulnerability represents a well-established category of security flaws where applications fail to properly validate user-supplied input before using it to access file system resources. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059, specifically focusing on command and scripting interpreters, as the compromised system could potentially allow execution of commands through the file access capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper path validation mechanisms that employ absolute path comparison rather than substring matching approaches. System administrators should upgrade to patched versions of Winamp Web Interface where available, as the vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases through enhanced directory validation logic. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization, enforcing strict directory access controls, and deploying network segmentation measures can help reduce the attack surface and limit potential damage from exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough security audits of their web interface implementations to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities that may exist in other applications or services.