CVE-2012-5978 in View
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in the (1) View Connection Server and (2) View Security Server in VMware View 4.x before 4.6.2 and 5.x before 5.1.2 allow remote attackers to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5978 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting VMware View Connection Server and View Security Server components within VMware View 4.x versions prior to 4.6.2 and 5.x versions prior to 5.1.2. This weakness enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected systems through unspecified attack vectors, potentially compromising sensitive data and system integrity. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and specifically aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input sanitization in the affected VMware View server components, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file path requests and access files outside the intended directory structure. Attackers can leverage this flaw to read sensitive configuration files, authentication credentials, system logs, and other confidential data that should remain restricted to authorized users only. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through multiple attack surfaces including web interfaces, API endpoints, or network protocols used by the VMware View servers to communicate with client systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations utilizing affected VMware View versions, as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to potentially critical system information. The attack surface extends beyond simple file reading capabilities to include potential privilege escalation opportunities, as attackers may discover credentials, encryption keys, or system configuration details that could lead to further compromise of the virtual desktop infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can undermine the security posture of virtual desktop environments that rely on VMware View for remote access and management.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for VMware View 4.6.2 and 5.1.2 versions, which address the directory traversal vulnerabilities through proper input validation and path restriction mechanisms. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit exposure of affected servers to untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect anomalous file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies as outlined in the mitre attack framework where such vulnerabilities often serve as initial access points for more sophisticated attacks targeting enterprise infrastructure.