CVE-2011-1654 in Total Defense
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the Heartbeat Web Service in CA.Itm.Server.ManagementWS.dll in the Management Server in CA Total Defense (TD) r12 before SE2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via directory traversal sequences in the GUID parameter in an upload request to FileUploadHandler.ashx.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2017
The CVE-2011-1654 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Heartbeat Web Service component of CA Total Defense r12 before SE2 management server. This vulnerability exists in the CA.Itm.Server.ManagementWS.dll assembly and specifically affects the FileUploadHandler.ashx endpoint which processes upload requests. The flaw manifests when the GUID parameter in upload requests is manipulated using directory traversal sequences, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, particularly in how the system handles file upload operations and path resolution.
This directory traversal vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, which specifically addresses "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter. The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially write files to arbitrary locations on the server filesystem. The attack vector requires a remote attacker to send a specially crafted request containing directory traversal sequences in the GUID parameter, which then gets processed by the vulnerable FileUploadHandler. This creates an opportunity for attackers to upload malicious files or overwrite existing system files, ultimately leading to arbitrary code execution privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with a direct path to compromise the entire management server infrastructure. Once exploited, attackers can gain persistent access to the system, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and disruption of security operations. The vulnerability affects the core management capabilities of CA Total Defense, which is designed to provide security monitoring and management functions. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where an attacker could compromise the very system meant to protect against security threats, potentially enabling further lateral movement within the network and access to other systems that rely on the compromised management server for coordination and control.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches for CA Total Defense r12 SE2 or later versions that address this directory traversal vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the affected FileUploadHandler.ashx endpoint to only trusted sources, while also implementing input validation and sanitization measures at the application level. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the security infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly when handling file upload operations and path resolution in web applications. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious directory traversal patterns in web server logs can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts.