CVE-2008-1221 in eScan Server
Summary
by MITRE
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in the FTP server in MicroWorld eScan Corporate Edition 9.0.742.98 and eScan Management Console (aka eScan Server) 9.0.742.1 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via an absolute pathname in the RETR (get) command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1221 represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw within the FTP server implementation of MicroWorld eScan Corporate Edition and its associated eScan Management Console. This security weakness exists in version 9.0.742.98 of the corporate edition and version 9.0.742.1 of the management console, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system files. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the RETR command handling mechanism, which is fundamental to the File Transfer Protocol's file retrieval functionality. When an attacker submits a malicious absolute pathname through the RETR command, the FTP server fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before processing the file access request, enabling arbitrary file reading capabilities.
This particular flaw falls under the CWE-22 category of "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory" and aligns with the broader ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: File Transfer Protocol. The technical implementation error stems from inadequate input validation and path sanitization within the FTP server component, where the system does not properly restrict file access to only authorized directories. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting specially formatted RETR commands that specify absolute file paths on the target system, potentially accessing critical system files, configuration data, or sensitive user information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and directly retrieve files from any location on the file system where the FTP service has read permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can lead to complete system compromise and data exfiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains the ability to read system configuration files, password hashes, application data, and potentially sensitive corporate information stored on the server. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring prior authentication, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to establish persistent access or extract valuable data. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could result in significant financial loss, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. The ease of exploitation combined with the potential for accessing critical system resources makes this vulnerability highly dangerous in production environments where eScan servers are deployed to manage and protect corporate networks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches or updates that address the path traversal issue in the FTP server component. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to the eScan Management Console and FTP services to only authorized administrative networks. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization within the FTP server configuration can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from manifesting in other components. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous FTP activity patterns, particularly unusual RETR command usage that might indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential path traversal vulnerabilities in related components and ensure that proper access controls are implemented to limit the damage that could occur if such vulnerabilities are exploited in other parts of the system infrastructure.