CVE-2012-0735 in Rational AppScan
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational AppScan Enterprise 5.x and 8.x before 8.5.0.1 does not properly scan file: URLs, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to obtain sensitive information or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0735 affects IBM Rational AppScan Enterprise versions 5.x and 8.x prior to 8.5.0.1, representing a significant security flaw in automated web application security scanning tools. This issue stems from inadequate handling of file: URLs during the scanning process, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors positioned in network traffic paths. The vulnerability specifically targets the way these security tools process uniform resource identifiers that reference local file system resources, which are typically used for accessing files on the same machine or network shares.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper validation and processing of file: URLs within the scanning framework, allowing attackers to manipulate the URI parsing mechanism to bypass normal security controls. When the AppScan tool encounters a crafted file: URI, it fails to properly sanitize or restrict the file system access, potentially enabling unauthorized file access or information disclosure. This weakness operates at the protocol handling layer where the application fails to adequately validate the legitimacy of file system resource requests, creating a pathway for attackers to extract sensitive data from the local system or network shares. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic case of insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data that could be leveraged for information disclosure attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could potentially enable more severe consequences including privilege escalation, lateral movement within networks, or the execution of arbitrary code on the scanning system itself. Attackers could craft malicious URIs that, when processed by the vulnerable AppScan tool, might allow them to access sensitive files, configuration data, or system resources that should normally be protected from external access. The man-in-the-middle attack vector suggests that this vulnerability could be exploited in network interception scenarios where attackers can modify or monitor traffic between the scanning tool and target applications. This creates a particularly dangerous situation where security tools designed to protect systems become potential attack vectors themselves, undermining the security posture of organizations relying on these tools for vulnerability assessment.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of IBM Rational AppScan Enterprise should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of the 8.5.0.1 patch or higher, as this represents the most effective mitigation strategy for addressing the file: URL processing vulnerability. System administrators should also implement network-level controls to restrict access to the scanning tool and monitor for suspicious URI patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and URI parsing in security tools, as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1190 for Proxy Execution and T1071.3 for Application Layer Protocol: File Transfer Protocol, which both relate to how applications handle file system access and network communication. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, ensuring that security tools operate in restricted environments where their capabilities cannot be easily abused by malicious actors.