CVE-2013-6827 in Mail-SeCure
Summary
by MITRE
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in admin/viewmsg.php in PineApp Mail-SeCure allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a full pathname in the msg parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2019
The CVE-2013-6827 vulnerability represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw within the PineApp Mail-SeCure administrative interface, specifically affecting the admin/viewmsg.php script. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and insecure direct object references as classified by CWE-22, which is a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to manipulate file access parameters. The vulnerability exists in the way the application processes the msg parameter, which is intended to reference email messages within the system. When an attacker provides a full pathname in this parameter, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the input, allowing arbitrary file access beyond the intended scope. This issue is particularly dangerous because it enables remote attackers to access sensitive system files that should remain protected from unauthorized access, potentially exposing confidential data, system configurations, or authentication credentials. The vulnerability demonstrates a lack of proper access controls and input sanitization mechanisms that are essential for maintaining application security boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious request to the admin/viewmsg.php endpoint with a specially formatted msg parameter containing an absolute path to a file outside the intended directory structure. The application processes this parameter directly without proper validation, effectively bypassing normal file access controls and allowing the attacker to retrieve any file that the web application process has read permissions for. This type of vulnerability is classified as a path traversal attack pattern in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of "Path Traversal" (T1083), where attackers leverage weaknesses in input validation to access files outside of the intended directory. The flaw essentially allows attackers to navigate the file system in unintended ways, potentially accessing system configuration files, database files, or other sensitive resources that are not meant to be accessible through the web interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with unauthorized access to critical system components that could lead to complete system compromise. An attacker could potentially access sensitive files such as configuration files containing database credentials, system logs, or even source code that might reveal additional vulnerabilities. The remote nature of the attack means that no local system access is required, making the exploitation relatively straightforward and accessible to anyone with network connectivity to the affected system. This vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate their privileges, gain persistence within the environment, or extract sensitive data that could be used for further attacks. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the access granted could facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Organizations using PineApp Mail-SeCure would be at significant risk of data breaches and system compromise if this vulnerability remains unpatched.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-6827 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms to prevent unauthorized file access attempts. The primary remediation involves modifying the admin/viewmsg.php script to properly validate and sanitize all input parameters, particularly those that reference file paths. This includes implementing strict input filtering that rejects absolute paths or ensures that all file references are properly bounded within the intended directory structure. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and authentication mechanisms to ensure that only authorized administrators can access the vulnerable endpoint. The solution should incorporate techniques such as canonicalization of file paths, directory traversal prevention, and proper input validation as recommended by security best practices and standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the system, as this vulnerability represents a common pattern that may exist elsewhere in the application or infrastructure. System administrators should also ensure that the affected software is updated to the latest version that contains the appropriate patches and security fixes for this specific vulnerability.