CVE-2011-0345 in OmniVista
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the NMS server in Alcatel-Lucent OmniVista 4760 R5.1.06.03 and earlier allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via directory traversal sequences in HTTP GET requests, related to the lang variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0345 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the NMS server component of Alcatel-Lucent OmniVista 4760 versions prior to R5.1.06.03. This security weakness resides in the server's handling of HTTP GET requests and specifically affects the lang variable parameter which is used for language localization purposes. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the server by exploiting insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that process user-supplied data. The flaw stems from the server's failure to properly validate or sanitize the lang parameter, allowing attackers to manipulate directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate outside the intended directory structure and access sensitive files that should remain protected.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal attack pattern where the NMS server processes user input without adequate sanitization, allowing malicious actors to craft HTTP requests containing directory traversal sequences. When the server processes these requests, it fails to properly validate the lang parameter, resulting in the execution of file access operations that can traverse directories beyond the intended scope. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway involves sending HTTP GET requests with crafted lang parameter values that contain sequences such as ../../../etc/passwd or similar directory traversal patterns, enabling unauthorized file access to system files, configuration data, and potentially sensitive information stored on the server.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security risks to organizations utilizing Alcatel-Lucent OmniVista 4760 systems. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this weakness can gain access to critical system files, configuration parameters, and potentially sensitive user data that may be stored within the server's file structure. The implications extend beyond simple file access as attackers could potentially extract system credentials, application configuration files, database connection details, or other sensitive information that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the NMS server may be accessible from external networks. This exposure creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges, conduct reconnaissance, or use the acquired information to launch more sophisticated attacks against the broader network infrastructure.
Security mitigations for CVE-2011-0345 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the NMS server component. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Alcatel-Lucent OmniVista 4760 R5.1.06.03 or later versions where the vulnerability has been patched. In environments where immediate upgrades are not feasible, administrators should implement network-level restrictions such as firewall rules that limit access to the NMS server to trusted IP addresses only, thereby reducing the attack surface. Additionally, implementing proper input validation on the lang parameter through the use of allowlists or strict validation patterns can prevent malicious directory traversal sequences from being processed. The implementation of web application firewalls or intrusion prevention systems that can detect and block directory traversal patterns in HTTP requests provides an additional layer of protection. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify other potential directory traversal vulnerabilities within their network infrastructure and implement the principle of least privilege to limit the damage that could result from successful exploitation of such vulnerabilities. This remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers the discovery of file and directory permissions, and emphasizes the importance of proper access controls and input validation in preventing unauthorized system access.