CVE-2007-0055 in Formbankserver
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in formbankcgi.exe/AbfrageForm in Formbankserver 1.9 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via directory traversal sequences in the Name parameter. NOTE: The provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0055 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the formbankcgi.exe component of Formbankserver version 1.9. This directory traversal vulnerability specifically affects the AbfrageForm functionality and enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected system through manipulation of the Name parameter. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application's file handling routines, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that traverse directory structures beyond the intended application boundaries. Such flaws typically arise when applications fail to properly validate user-supplied input before using it in file system operations, creating opportunities for attackers to access sensitive system resources that should remain protected.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a crafted Name parameter containing directory traversal sequences such as "../" or "..\\" to the vulnerable formbankcgi.exe component. The application processes these sequences without adequate validation, allowing the request to access files in parent directories or even system directories that should be inaccessible to regular users. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22, which defines the weakness of Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as Path Traversal. The vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in input validation and access control mechanisms, where the application fails to ensure that file access requests remain within the designated application scope.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it potentially enables attackers to access sensitive system files, configuration data, database files, or even system binaries that could lead to further compromise. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to extract database connection strings, application configuration files, user credential files, or other sensitive information that could facilitate additional attacks. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the network. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers File and Directory Discovery, as attackers can systematically enumerate and access files on the compromised system through the directory traversal mechanism.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security gap and implement broader defensive measures. The primary recommendation involves implementing strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file system operations. Applications should normalize and validate all input paths to ensure they remain within expected directories, implementing whitelist validation techniques that only permit known good paths. Organizations should also apply the principle of least privilege by restricting file system access permissions for the web application and ensuring that the application cannot access system-critical directories. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack, as directory traversal flaws often exist in multiple locations within complex web applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping software components up to date with security patches and implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious traversal patterns in real-time.