CVE-2007-5831 in SSL-Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in fileSystem.do in SSL-Explorer before 0.2.14 allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files via directory traversal sequences in the path parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5831 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in the SSL-Explorer web application version 0.2.13 and earlier. This weakness resides within the fileSystem.do component of the application, which processes file system operations through web requests. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the path parameter, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file access requests through specially crafted directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\.. The affected system fails to properly validate user-supplied input before using it in file system operations, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged from remote locations.
This directory traversal vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. The flaw enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve arbitrary files from the server's file system. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can potentially allow attackers to access sensitive configuration files, application source code, database files, or system credentials. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the file system level, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise if sensitive files are accessible. The attack vector requires only a remote web request with malicious path parameters, making it easily exploitable from external networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations using SSL-Explorer versions prior to 0.2.14, as it provides unauthorized access to critical system resources without requiring authentication. Attackers can exploit this weakness to access not only application files but potentially system files, configuration data, and user information stored on the server. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers discovering file and directory permissions on compromised systems, and T1566, which involves the initial access phase of attacks through malicious web content. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and operational disruption if this vulnerability is exploited, particularly in environments where sensitive data is processed or stored on systems running vulnerable versions of SSL-Explorer.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5831 primarily focus on upgrading to SSL-Explorer version 0.2.14 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the directory traversal vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file system operations. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block directory traversal attempts, restricting file system access permissions for web applications, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and monitoring can help detect suspicious access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other security frameworks to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.