CVE-2012-5051 in vCenter CapacityIQ
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in VMware CapacityIQ 1.5.x allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2012
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5051 represents a directory traversal flaw within VMware CapacityIQ version 1.5.x, a capacity management and optimization tool designed for enterprise data centers. 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 flaw enables remote attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure through unspecified attack vectors, potentially compromising sensitive data and system integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's file handling mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that manipulate file path parameters to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries. This allows unauthorized access to arbitrary files on the system, including configuration files, log files, and potentially sensitive data that should remain protected within the application's restricted environment. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be present in multiple entry points or functions within the software, making it particularly challenging to fully assess the attack surface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations utilizing VMware CapacityIQ 1.5.x, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to extract confidential information without authentication. The compromise could lead to exposure of system configurations, user credentials, application data, and other sensitive materials that might aid in further exploitation attempts. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and potential system compromise if attackers successfully leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit the flaw.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5051 should prioritize immediate patching of affected VMware CapacityIQ installations to the latest available versions that contain fixes for the directory traversal vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the affected system to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns or attempts to traverse directory structures. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) as attackers may use this flaw to discover system files and gather intelligence for further attacks. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened across all file handling functions, and the principle of least privilege should be enforced to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.