CVE-2010-3261 in Authentication Agent For Web
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in RSA Authentication Agent 7.0 before P2 for Web allows remote attackers to read unspecified data via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3261 represents a directory traversal flaw within RSA Authentication Agent 7.0 before P2 for Web, a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to access sensitive data through unspecified attack vectors. This directory traversal vulnerability falls under the broader category of CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw exists in the web-based authentication agent component of RSA's authentication infrastructure, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on this security solution for identity verification and access control.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the web interface of the RSA Authentication Agent. When processing user requests, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize file path inputs, allowing malicious actors to manipulate directory navigation sequences that can traverse beyond the intended directory structure. This weakness enables attackers to access files and directories that should normally be restricted, potentially exposing sensitive authentication data, configuration files, or system information that could compromise the entire authentication ecosystem.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3261 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the RSA Authentication Agent. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to authentication credentials, session information, and potentially system-level data that would otherwise remain protected. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests multiple pathways through which an attacker could exploit this weakness, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it may be leveraged in various attack scenarios including credential theft, system reconnaissance, or further exploitation of the compromised authentication infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can lead to privilege escalation or unauthorized system access.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the official RSA patch or update P2 for the Authentication Agent 7.0, which addresses the directory traversal flaw through proper input validation and path sanitization mechanisms. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the authentication agent web interface, limiting exposure to trusted networks only. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns or directory traversal attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering, while the exploitation itself aligns with T1213 for data from information repositories, making comprehensive monitoring and access control essential for defense. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, emphasizing the need for robust application security measures in authentication systems.