CVE-2013-6864 in Adaptive Server Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in SAP Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) 15.0.3 before 15.0.3 ESD#4.3, 15.5 before 15.5 ESD#5.3, and 15.7 before 15.7 SP50 or 15.7 SP100 allows remote authenticated users to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6864 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within SAP Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise database management system. This weakness exists in multiple versions including ASE 15.0.3, 15.5, and 15.7, specifically affecting releases prior to their respective ESD and service pack updates. The vulnerability enables remote authenticated attackers to exploit the system through unspecified vectors that manipulate file system access patterns. The impact spans all three fundamental security principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, indicating the severity of potential compromise. Directory traversal vulnerabilities typically occur when applications fail to properly validate user-supplied input before using it to access files or directories on the server. In the context of database systems like ASE, this flaw could allow attackers to access sensitive configuration files, database credentials, system logs, or even execute arbitrary code on the underlying operating system. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. These attacks leverage the ability to navigate outside of intended directories through manipulation of file paths using sequences like "../" or similar constructs.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-6864 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and business disruption. Attackers could potentially access database backups, administrative scripts, or system configuration files that contain sensitive information such as encryption keys, user credentials, or system architecture details. The integrity aspect of the vulnerability means that attackers could modify critical database files or system components, leading to data corruption or unauthorized changes to database schemas. Availability is compromised when attackers exploit the vulnerability to consume system resources or corrupt critical system files, potentially leading to denial of service conditions. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations running SAP ASE in enterprise environments where database security is paramount, as it could enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the overall IT infrastructure. The fact that this vulnerability affects multiple major release versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the input validation mechanisms of the database system's file access functions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant service packs and ESD updates provided by SAP to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves upgrading to ASE versions 15.0.3 ESD#4.3, 15.5 ESD#5.3, or 15.7 SP50/SP100, which contain the necessary patches to prevent directory traversal attacks. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the number of authenticated users who can interact with database systems. Implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures at the application level can provide additional defense-in-depth. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns or attempts to traverse directory structures. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078 for valid accounts, as attackers would likely need legitimate credentials to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems that might be exposed to similar directory traversal flaws, particularly legacy systems that may not receive regular security updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust security monitoring practices to detect and respond to exploitation attempts.