CVE-2010-3487 in Pinky
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in YelloSoft Pinky 1.0 for Windows allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a %5C (encoded backslash) in the URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2021
The directory traversal vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3487 affects YelloSoft Pinky version 1.0 for Windows systems, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the target system. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the web application's URL processing mechanism, specifically failing to properly sanitize or decode URL-encoded characters before performing file operations. The flaw manifests when the application encounters a %5C sequence in the URL, which represents an encoded backslash character that should be properly handled by the system's file path resolution logic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper path validation and sanitization in the application's request handling code. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious URL containing encoded backslash characters, the application fails to normalize or validate these inputs before using them in file system operations. This allows the attacker to manipulate file path resolution and potentially access files outside the intended directory structure, effectively bypassing access controls and gaining unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web server's file handling capabilities, making it particularly dangerous for web-based applications that process user-supplied input directly without proper sanitization.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations using YelloSoft Pinky 1.0, as it allows attackers to potentially access configuration files, database files, system logs, and other sensitive data that should remain protected. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly attractive for attackers seeking to gain unauthorized access to information systems. The vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the CWE-22 category, which addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. This weakness enables attackers to traverse the file system hierarchy and access files they should not be permitted to read, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or further escalation of privileges.
The exploitation of CVE-2010-3487 aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of Path Traversal, specifically categorized under T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries attempt to enumerate files and directories on compromised systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied URLs, proper path normalization, and the implementation of secure coding practices that prevent directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, where applications should never trust user input and should always validate and sanitize all external data before processing. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious URL patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The recommended remediation involves updating to a patched version of YelloSoft Pinky or implementing proper input validation mechanisms that reject or normalize URL-encoded characters before they are processed in file system operations, thereby preventing unauthorized access to system resources and maintaining the integrity of the application's file access controls.