CVE-2013-4173 in xymon
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the trend-data daemon (xymond_rrd) in Xymon 4.x before 4.3.12 allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the host name in a "drophost" command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4173 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the trend-data daemon component of Xymon monitoring software version 4.x prior to 4.3.12. This directory traversal vulnerability specifically affects the xymond_rrd process responsible for handling trend data operations and is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary file deletion commands through maliciously crafted host names. The flaw occurs when the system processes a "drophost" command containing directory traversal sequences that bypass normal input validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization within the host name parameter processing logic. When the xymond_rrd daemon receives a "drophost" command, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the host name field, allowing attackers to inject .. (dot dot) sequences that traverse the file system directory structure. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22, which classifies directory traversal vulnerabilities as a fundamental flaw in input validation where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being used in file system operations. The vulnerability enables an attacker to manipulate the file system by crafting host names that contain relative path traversal sequences, potentially leading to deletion of files outside the intended directory scope.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to monitoring infrastructure security and system integrity. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to delete critical system files, configuration data, or monitoring logs, potentially disrupting the entire monitoring ecosystem. The attack vector requires only network access to the affected service, making it particularly dangerous in environments where monitoring systems are exposed to untrusted networks. This vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise or denial of service conditions, as the monitoring infrastructure may become unusable or lose critical data. The impact extends beyond simple file deletion to potentially enable further exploitation through the removal of security-critical components or the creation of backdoors.
Security mitigations for CVE-2013-4173 primarily focus on immediate patching and configuration hardening measures. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Xymon version 4.3.12 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation mechanisms. System administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to the xymond_rrd service, restricting it to trusted networks only. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation at all network interfaces, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious "drophost" command patterns, and conducting regular security audits of monitoring infrastructure components. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1485 for Data Destruction, as it enables attackers to execute destructive commands remotely. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regularly review access logs for anomalous host name patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.