CVE-2007-6612 in mongrel
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in DirHandler (lib/mongrel/handlers.rb) in Mongrel 1.0.4 and 1.1.x before 1.1.3 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via an HTTP request containing double-encoded sequences (".%252e").
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6612 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Mongrel web server software version 1.0.4 and 1.1.x prior to 1.1.3. This weakness resides in the DirHandler component located in the lib/mongrel/handlers.rb file, which processes HTTP requests and handles directory operations. The vulnerability specifically exploits how the server processes double-encoded sequences in file paths, creating a pathway for remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the system. The exploitation technique leverages the sequence ".%252e" which when processed by the vulnerable software can bypass normal path validation mechanisms and allow unauthorized file access.
This directory traversal vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category known as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')", which is a fundamental security weakness that has plagued web applications for decades. The attack vector specifically targets the input sanitization process within the Mongrel server's HTTP request handling pipeline. When an attacker submits a request containing double-encoded sequences, the server fails to properly decode and validate the path components, allowing malicious path traversal attempts to succeed. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation and improper handling of encoded characters in web application security contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to access sensitive files that should remain protected within the server's file system. An attacker could potentially read configuration files, source code, database files, or other confidential data stored on the server. This type of access could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the compromised system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it an attractive target for automated attacks and malicious actors seeking to gain unauthorized access to web server resources. The double-encoding technique used in this exploit makes detection more challenging for security systems that might not properly handle multiple levels of URL decoding.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6612 should focus on immediate software updates to versions 1.1.3 or later where the directory traversal vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent double-encoded sequences from being processed as legitimate file paths. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious URL patterns, though these should complement rather than replace proper software updates. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following security best practices including principle of least privilege, regular security audits, and maintaining updated software versions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use such techniques to discover sensitive files and potentially gain initial access to systems through phishing campaigns that target vulnerable web applications. System administrators should also implement monitoring and logging of unusual file access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.