CVE-2012-5185 in Documents Pro File Viewer
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the Olive Toast Documents Pro File Viewer (formerly Files HD) app before 1.11.1 for iOS allows remote attackers to read or delete files by leveraging guest access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2018
The CVE-2012-5185 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw in the Olive Toast Documents Pro File Viewer application for iOS devices, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.11.1. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote exploitation through guest access mechanisms, creating a significant security risk for iOS users who rely on this file viewing application. The flaw allows attackers to bypass normal file access controls and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored on affected devices. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper path handling within the application's file access routines, enabling malicious actors to manipulate file paths and access files outside the intended directory structure.
The technical implementation of this directory traversal vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input when processing file paths. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious file requests that include directory traversal sequences such as "../" or similar patterns that manipulate the file system navigation. When the application processes these malformed paths without proper validation, it can traverse directories beyond its intended scope and access files that should remain protected. This flaw specifically leverages guest access permissions, which typically should provide limited functionality but in this case allow full traversal capabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. Such flaws often enable attackers to access sensitive files, configuration data, or system resources that should be protected from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5185 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can potentially enable complete system compromise through file deletion or modification operations. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to not only read sensitive documents and files stored on iOS devices but also to delete critical files, potentially causing data loss or system instability. The guest access mechanism that enables exploitation suggests that even unauthenticated users can potentially access protected files, which significantly increases the attack surface. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for enterprise environments where iOS devices may contain confidential business data, personal information, or proprietary documents that could be accessed by unauthorized parties. The impact is further amplified by the fact that iOS applications with file system access capabilities often store user data in predictable locations, making the directory traversal attack more effective. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1074 Data Staged and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can use this weakness to access and exfiltrate sensitive data from iOS devices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5185 require immediate application updates to version 1.11.1 or later, which presumably includes proper input validation and path sanitization measures. Organizations should implement comprehensive mobile device management policies that enforce application updates and monitor for vulnerable applications on corporate devices. The fix should include robust input validation that prevents directory traversal sequences from being processed, proper path normalization, and strict access controls that limit file system operations to intended directories. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict which file viewing applications can be installed on iOS devices. Security awareness training should emphasize the risks of installing untrusted applications and the importance of keeping mobile applications updated. Regular vulnerability assessments should include mobile application security testing to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other iOS applications. The remediation process should also involve reviewing and strengthening access controls for file system operations, implementing proper logging of file access attempts, and establishing incident response procedures for potential exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.