CVE-2011-5141 in Open Business Management
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in exportcsv/exportcsv_index.php in Open Business Management (OBM) 2.4.0-rc13 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to include and execute arbitrary local files via a .. (dot dot) in the module parameter in an export_page action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2018
The CVE-2011-5141 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Open Business Management (OBM) platform version 2.4.0-rc13 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the exportcsv module, specifically within the exportcsv_index.php file, where improper input validation allows authenticated remote attackers to manipulate file inclusion mechanisms. The flaw manifests when the module parameter in the export_page action contains directory traversal sequences such as .. (dot dot), enabling attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory structure and access arbitrary local files on the server. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker who has obtained legitimate user credentials can exploit this weakness without requiring additional privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting malicious requests that manipulate the module parameter to include parent directory references, thereby bypassing normal file access controls. When the application processes these requests, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the input, allowing the directory traversal sequence to be interpreted as a legitimate file path. This enables attackers to include and execute local files that should normally be restricted, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution, data disclosure, or system compromise. The attack vector operates through the web application's file inclusion mechanism, where the application concatenates user-supplied input directly into file paths without proper validation or sanitization, creating an environment where malicious input can be interpreted as legitimate file access commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file access, as it can enable attackers to escalate their privileges and gain deeper access to the underlying system. An authenticated attacker can potentially access sensitive configuration files, database credentials, application source code, or other system files that contain critical information. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where OBM systems may be running with elevated privileges or where the application has access to sensitive business data. The ability to execute arbitrary local files through directory traversal can lead to complete system compromise, especially if the application runs with sufficient privileges to access system binaries or execute scripts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which describes executing commands through various interfaces, and T1021, which covers remote services exploitation, as the vulnerability enables remote code execution through legitimate application interfaces.
Organizations utilizing OBM versions 2.4.0-rc13 or earlier should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability. The most effective approach involves applying the vendor-provided security patches or upgrading to a patched version of the OBM platform. Until patches are applied, administrators should consider implementing input validation controls at the application level, ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized and validated before being processed. Additional mitigations include restricting file inclusion functionality to only allow predefined, whitelisted modules, implementing proper access controls to limit the scope of file access, and monitoring application logs for suspicious file access patterns. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can also provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block malicious requests attempting directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper file access controls in preventing privilege escalation attacks, and serves as a reminder of the necessity for comprehensive security testing and regular patch management processes to maintain secure application environments.