CVE-2007-2058 in PicoZip
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Acubix PicoZip 4.02 allows user-assisted remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) sequence in the file path in an (1) GZ, (2) TAR, (3) RAR, (4) JAR, or (5) ZIP archive.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2058 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Acubix PicoZip version 4.02 that exposes the software to remote exploitation through user-assisted attack vectors. This security weakness specifically affects the decompression functionality of multiple archive formats including GZ, TAR, RAR, JAR, and ZIP file types, creating a significant risk for systems that process these compressed files. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and path sanitization mechanisms within the archive extraction process, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file paths through the use of .. (dot dot) sequences that navigate upward in the directory structure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious archive containing file paths that utilize directory traversal sequences to target files outside the intended extraction directory. When the vulnerable PicoZip software processes these archives, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the file paths, enabling the decompression process to write files to arbitrary locations on the target system. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability is classified as a user-assisted remote attack because it requires a user to initiate the decompression process with a specially crafted archive, but the attacker can remotely deliver the malicious archive through various means.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-2058 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary file overwrites, potentially resulting in system compromise, data corruption, or privilege escalation. Attackers could overwrite critical system files, configuration files, or executables, leading to service disruption or complete system takeover. The vulnerability affects multiple archive formats, amplifying its potential impact across different environments where these file types are commonly processed. Organizations using PicoZip for archive management, especially those processing untrusted archives from external sources, face significant risk of unauthorized system modifications. The attack vector aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell' and broader path traversal attack patterns that target file handling functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through software updates to newer versions of PicoZip that address the directory traversal flaw. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies for archive processing, particularly for untrusted sources, and consider deploying sandboxed environments for archive extraction operations. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running the vulnerable software version and establish monitoring procedures to detect suspicious file operations. The remediation process should include disabling unnecessary archive processing capabilities where possible and implementing robust input validation at multiple layers of the system architecture. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in the future, as this flaw demonstrates the critical importance of proper path validation in archive handling components.