CVE-2013-4407 in Perl
Summary
by MITRE
HTTP::Body::Multipart in the HTTP-Body 1.08, 1.17, and earlier module for Perl uses the part of the uploaded file s name after the first "." character as the suffix of a temporary file, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct attacks by leveraging subsequent behavior that may assume the suffix is well-formed.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4407 resides within the HTTP::Body::Multipart module in Perl's HTTP-Body library version 1.08 and earlier. This flaw represents a path traversal and file handling issue that stems from improper temporary file naming conventions during multipart form data processing. The vulnerability specifically affects how the module handles uploaded file names when creating temporary files for storage during HTTP request processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the HTTP-Body module processes multipart form data containing file uploads. During this process, the module extracts the filename from the uploaded file and uses the portion of the filename that appears after the first period character as the suffix for creating temporary files on the filesystem. This approach creates a security risk because attackers can manipulate the filename structure to influence the temporary file naming process and potentially bypass intended security controls.
When an attacker uploads a file with a specially crafted name containing multiple periods, the module's logic truncates the filename at the first period, resulting in a temporary file with a suffix that may not match the expected file type or security constraints. This behavior creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the temporary file creation process, potentially leading to unauthorized file operations or exploitation of subsequent processing logic that assumes well-formed file extensions. The vulnerability can be leveraged to bypass security checks that depend on file extensions or to place temporary files in unintended locations within the filesystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file handling issues and can enable more sophisticated attacks when combined with other security weaknesses. Attackers can exploit this flaw to influence the temporary file creation process, potentially causing the system to execute malicious code or to place temporary files in locations where they can be accessed by unauthorized users. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that process file uploads through Perl-based HTTP frameworks, where the HTTP-Body module is used to handle multipart form data.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-310 Cryptographic Issues within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, representing a path traversal weakness that can be exploited through improper handling of file names and extensions. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can leverage file upload functionality to execute malicious code through manipulated temporary file creation processes. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation and improper file handling that can be exploited in web application contexts where file upload capabilities are present.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to HTTP-Body version 1.18 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved filename parsing and temporary file creation logic. System administrators should also implement additional input validation measures, including filename sanitization and restriction of allowed file extensions, to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Perl-based web applications to identify other potential instances of improper file handling that could be exploited through similar attack vectors.