CVE-2009-10005 in Web Appliance
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2025
ContentKeeper Web Appliance (now maintained by Impero Software) versions prior to 125.10 expose the mimencode binary via a CGI endpoint, allowing unauthenticated attackers to retrieve arbitrary files from the filesystem. By crafting a POST request to /cgi-bin/ck/mimencode with traversal and output parameters, attackers can read sensitive files such as /etc/passwd outside the webroot.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2025
The CVE-2009-10005 vulnerability affects ContentKeeper Web Appliances manufactured by Impero Software, specifically versions prior to 125.10, presenting a critical path traversal flaw that enables arbitrary file retrieval. This vulnerability exists within the web application's CGI endpoint handling, where the mimencode binary is improperly exposed to unauthenticated users. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's file handling processes, creating a direct pathway for attackers to bypass normal file system restrictions and access sensitive system files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages a specific POST request pattern to the /cgi-bin/ck/mimencode endpoint, where attackers can manipulate traversal and output parameters to specify arbitrary file paths. This allows attackers to read files outside the webroot directory structure, including critical system files such as /etc/passwd, which contains user account information. The vulnerability operates through a classic path traversal attack vector where directory traversal sequences like ../ are used to navigate beyond the intended file system boundaries, demonstrating a fundamental lack of proper input sanitization and file path validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with access to sensitive system configuration files, authentication data, and potentially other confidential information stored on the appliance. This exposure creates opportunities for further exploitation, including credential harvesting, system reconnaissance, and potential privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability affects organizations using ContentKeeper appliances for web content filtering and security monitoring, potentially compromising the integrity of their network security infrastructure. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that any remote user can exploit this flaw without requiring valid credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where such appliances are deployed without proper network segmentation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to ContentKeeper version 125.10 or later, which contains patches addressing this vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the affected CGI endpoints, while monitoring should be enabled to detect suspicious POST requests to the /cgi-bin/ck/mimencode path. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications and appliances within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-770 Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery, highlighting the importance of proper input validation and access controls in web application security. The flaw represents a significant oversight in the application's security design, emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive security testing and proper resource management in enterprise security appliances.