CVE-2009-1559 in WVC54GCA
Summary
by MITRE
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in adm/file.cgi on the Cisco Linksys WVC54GCA wireless video camera with firmware 1.00R24 and possibly 1.00R22 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via an absolute pathname in the this_file parameter. NOTE: traversal via a .. (dot dot) is probably also possible.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2018
The CVE-2009-1559 vulnerability represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw in the Cisco Linksys WVC54GCA wireless video camera firmware versions 1.00R24 and potentially 1.00R22. This vulnerability resides within the adm/file.cgi component of the device's web interface, exposing a fundamental security weakness that allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the device's file system. The flaw specifically manifests when the this_file parameter receives an absolute pathname, enabling unauthorized file access without proper authentication or authorization mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the web application layer of the camera's firmware. When an attacker submits a malicious absolute path through the this_file parameter, the application fails to properly validate or restrict the file access request, allowing direct traversal to system files that should remain protected. This weakness aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability operates at the application level, exploiting the lack of proper access controls and input validation in the web server component of the device's firmware.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides remote attackers with unauthorized access to sensitive system files that may contain configuration data, user credentials, or other confidential information. An attacker could potentially extract firmware binaries, configuration files, or other system resources that could be used for further exploitation or to gain deeper insights into the device's internal architecture. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the device or network proximity, making it particularly dangerous in environments where such devices are deployed. This weakness also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers directory and file permissions enumeration, and T1566, which covers credential access through various attack vectors.
The vulnerability's exploitation potential extends beyond simple file reading, as the inclusion of a comment suggesting that traversal via ".." (dot dot) paths is also possible indicates that the flaw may be more extensive than initially described. This broader exploitation capability means that attackers could potentially navigate through the file system hierarchy more freely, potentially accessing critical system components or sensitive data stored in different directories. The absence of proper input filtering and validation mechanisms creates a pathway for attackers to bypass normal file access restrictions, making the device's file system essentially exposed to unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Cisco to address the path traversal flaw, along with network segmentation to limit access to the device's management interfaces. Organizations should implement proper access controls, including firewall rules that restrict access to the camera's web management interface to authorized personnel only. The device should be configured with strong authentication mechanisms and regular security audits to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, network monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper access controls in embedded web applications, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular firmware updates and security assessments in networked devices.