CVE-2010-3097 in Frigate 3
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in WinFrigate Frigate 3 FTP client 3.36 and earlier allows remote FTP servers to overwrite arbitrary files via a "..\" (dot dot backslash) in a filename.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3097 represents a critical directory traversal flaw in the WinFrigate Frigate 3 FTP client version 3.36 and earlier. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the client software's file handling processes, specifically when processing filenames containing malicious sequences. The vulnerability manifests when a remote FTP server crafts filenames that include the "..\" sequence, which is a common technique used in directory traversal attacks to navigate outside the intended directory structure. The flaw operates at the application level where the FTP client fails to properly sanitize or validate filename inputs before executing file operations. This allows malicious FTP servers to manipulate the client's file system behavior and potentially overwrite critical system files or files in unauthorized directories.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. The flaw exploits the client's failure to properly resolve and validate relative path references during file operations, enabling attackers to bypass normal file system access controls. When the FTP client processes a filename containing "..\", it does not adequately verify whether the resulting path remains within the intended working directory, allowing the attacker to specify arbitrary file paths for operations. This vulnerability operates under the principle that the client software trusts the filenames provided by remote servers without sufficient validation, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate file system operations through crafted filenames.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3097 extends beyond simple file overwrites, potentially enabling more severe compromise scenarios. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to overwrite critical system files, configuration files, or even executables, leading to system instability, privilege escalation, or complete system compromise. The attack requires minimal prerequisites since it only necessitates access to a malicious FTP server, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently connect to untrusted FTP services. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the system, as unauthorized file modifications can disrupt normal operations or provide attackers with persistent access. Additionally, this flaw could be combined with other attack vectors to create more sophisticated compromise scenarios, particularly when combined with social engineering tactics that might convince users to connect to malicious FTP servers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3097 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The most direct solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the WinFrigate Frigate 3 FTP client that properly validates and sanitizes filename inputs. Organizations should implement network-level controls to restrict FTP traffic to trusted servers and consider deploying network segmentation to limit exposure. Application-level defenses should include input validation that explicitly rejects filenames containing directory traversal sequences, proper path resolution that maintains strict boundaries, and privilege separation during file operations. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file system activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing the principle of least privilege and ensuring that FTP client applications operate with minimal required permissions to reduce the potential impact of successful attacks. Organizations should also consider alternative secure file transfer protocols such as SFTP or FTPS that provide better security guarantees and are less susceptible to this class of vulnerability.