CVE-2011-2474 in EAServer
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the HTTP Server in Sybase EAServer 6.3.1 Developer Edition allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a /.\../\../\ sequence in a path.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2474 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the HTTP server component of Sybase EAServer 6.3.1 Developer Edition. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize file paths submitted by remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the server processes requests containing malicious path sequences that exploit improper path resolution logic, allowing unauthorized access to files outside the intended web root directory. The attack vector leverages the specific sequence of /.\../\../\ which demonstrates a classic path traversal technique that bypasses normal file access controls through manipulation of directory navigation tokens.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates at the application layer and directly violates the principle of least privilege by enabling attackers to access sensitive system files that should remain protected from external inspection. The flaw resides in the HTTP server's path resolution algorithm which does not adequately filter or normalize path components before processing file requests. This allows an attacker to construct malicious URLs that, when processed by the server, result in the retrieval of arbitrary files from the underlying operating system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects the developer edition of EAServer, which typically runs in environments with elevated privileges and may contain sensitive development artifacts, configuration files, or source code that could be exploited for further attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to access critical system resources including database configuration files, application source code, and potentially system credentials stored in configuration files. This represents a significant security risk that could lead to complete system compromise, especially when combined with other vulnerabilities or when the affected server hosts sensitive applications. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation practices that align with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and could potentially enable privilege escalation attacks if the affected server process runs with elevated permissions. The attack requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such servers may be exposed to untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected Sybase EAServer version to the latest available security updates from the vendor. Organizations should also implement network-level restrictions to limit access to the affected server, particularly in production environments where the developer edition may be running with unnecessary privileges. Input validation should be strengthened at the application level to filter or reject path sequences containing directory traversal attempts, and the principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that the server process runs with minimal required permissions. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious path traversal attempts in server logs, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, which represents a common reconnaissance technique that attackers use to gather information about the target system. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and security configuration management practices to prevent similar issues in other applications that may be vulnerable to path traversal attacks.