CVE-2008-0760 in Sentinel Protection Server
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in SafeNet Sentinel Protection Server 7.4.1.0 and earlier, and Sentinel Keys Server 1.0.4.0 and earlier, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a ..\ (dot dot backslash) in the URI. NOTE: this issue reportedly exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2007-6483.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0760 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting SafeNet Sentinel Protection Server and Sentinel Keys Server software versions up to 7.4.1.0 and 1.0.4.0 respectively. This security weakness enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected systems by exploiting a directory traversal technique using the ..\ (dot dot backslash) sequence in Uniform Resource Identifier requests. The flaw is particularly concerning as it allows unauthorized access to sensitive system files that should remain protected from external examination. The vulnerability demonstrates the persistent nature of security issues that can arise from inadequate patching or incomplete fixes for previously identified weaknesses.
The technical implementation of this directory traversal vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the web server components of these security products. When processing URI requests containing the ..\ sequence, the affected systems fail to properly sanitize or normalize the input path, allowing attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries. This occurs because the software does not adequately verify or restrict path components in incoming requests, enabling malicious users to construct requests that traverse parent directories and access files outside the designated web root or application directories. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically affects how the software handles file path resolution in HTTP requests, making it particularly dangerous for systems that serve sensitive configuration data or authentication files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can potentially expose critical system information that attackers could leverage for further exploitation. Remote attackers could access system configuration files, license information, cryptographic keys, or other sensitive data that might reveal system architecture details or authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability significantly weakens the security posture of organizations relying on these Sentinel products, as it provides a straightforward method for bypassing access controls without requiring authentication. The implications are particularly severe for protection server implementations where sensitive security tokens and cryptographic material are managed, as unauthorized access to such data could compromise entire security infrastructures.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest available patches from SafeNet, which would address the incomplete fix referenced in the CVE description. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to these services to trusted networks only, while also implementing proper input validation at the application level. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and represents a variant of the well-known directory traversal attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of path traversal. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar incomplete fixes or remediation gaps in other security products, as this vulnerability demonstrates how partial fixes can leave systems exposed to continued exploitation.