CVE-2008-5867 in Yerba
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Yerba SACphp 6.3 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files, and possibly have other impact, via directory traversal sequences in the mod field contained in the base64-encoded SID parameter to an unspecified component. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2018
The CVE-2008-5867 vulnerability represents a directory traversal flaw in Yerba SACphp version 6.3 that enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected system. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object references and represents a fundamental breakdown in input validation and access control mechanisms within the web application. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes the mod field contained within a base64-encoded SID parameter, which is passed to an unspecified component of the system. The directory traversal sequences allow attackers to manipulate file paths and access files outside the intended directory structure, potentially compromising sensitive data and system integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the base64-encoded SID parameter where the mod field contains directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ that bypass normal file access controls. When the application processes this parameter without proper sanitization or validation, it can be tricked into accessing files in parent directories or even system directories that should be protected from unauthorized access. This flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and path sanitization, which are fundamental security controls that should prevent such manipulations. The vulnerability is categorized as CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file disclosure, as remote attackers could potentially access configuration files, database credentials, application source code, or other sensitive information that could lead to further compromise. The unspecified component mentioned in the vulnerability description suggests that the attack vector may affect multiple parts of the application, increasing the potential scope of impact. This type of vulnerability provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or even complete system compromise depending on the permissions of the web application process. The attack can be executed remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no prior access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5867 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data, particularly parameters that influence file access or path resolution. Organizations should ensure that all input containing path information is properly validated against a whitelist of allowed values or properly encoded to prevent traversal sequences from being interpreted. The application should implement proper access controls and privilege separation to limit the damage that can be caused by path traversal attempts. Additionally, the system should be updated to a newer version of Yerba SACphp that addresses this vulnerability, as the affected version is likely to contain other unpatched security flaws. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers could use such information to discover system resources and potentially escalate privileges. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into future versions of the application.