CVE-2008-1169 in SCI Photo Chat
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the embedded HTTP server in SCI Photo Chat Server 3.4.9 and earlier allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a "..\" (dot dot backslash) or "../" (dot dot forward slash) in the GET command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1169 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the embedded HTTP server component of SCI Photo Chat Server version 3.4.9 and earlier. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied paths during HTTP GET requests. The vulnerability specifically affects how the server processes directory navigation sequences, allowing malicious actors to bypass normal file access controls and retrieve arbitrary files from the underlying file system. The flaw manifests when the server receives requests containing directory traversal sequences such as "..\" or "../" which are commonly used to navigate up directory levels in file systems.
This directory traversal vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, also known as path traversal or directory traversal. The attack vector leverages the embedded HTTP server's failure to validate and sanitize input parameters before processing file access requests. When an attacker submits a GET request containing the malicious traversal sequences, the server interprets these sequences as legitimate navigation commands rather than malicious input, resulting in unauthorized file access. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to access sensitive files that may contain configuration data, user credentials, application source code, or other confidential information stored on the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical system resources and potentially escalate their privileges. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible servers. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate file system access but also potentially exposes the entire server infrastructure to further attacks. An attacker could leverage this weakness to read system configuration files, access database files, retrieve application source code, or even access other sensitive resources that should be restricted to authorized users only. The embedded nature of the HTTP server in the SCI Photo Chat Server means that the vulnerability affects the core functionality of the application and could compromise the entire system's integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1169 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the embedded HTTP server. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of SCI Photo Chat Server that addresses this vulnerability, as the vendor likely released a security update to resolve the directory traversal issue. The implementation of proper path validation should include strict filtering of input parameters to reject any sequences containing directory traversal patterns such as "..\", "../", or equivalent constructs. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the affected server, limiting exposure to trusted networks only. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious HTTP GET requests containing traversal sequences. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, indicating that attackers can use such weaknesses to enumerate system resources and gather intelligence for further exploitation. Organizations should also implement principle of least privilege access controls and regularly audit file system permissions to minimize the potential impact of successful traversal attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other embedded systems and web applications.