CVE-2014-0598 in Open Enterprise Server
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in iPrint in Novell Open Enterprise Server (OES) 11 SP1 before Maintenance Update 9151 on Linux has unspecified impact and remote attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2018
The CVE-2014-0598 vulnerability represents a directory traversal flaw within the iPrint component of Novell Open Enterprise Server version 11 SP1 prior to Maintenance Update 9151 on Linux platforms. This vulnerability resides in the print management functionality that allows users to interact with print services through web-based interfaces. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data when processing file paths or directory references within the iPrint subsystem. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate file access patterns through specially crafted requests that can traverse directory structures beyond intended boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of file path parameters that are processed by the iPrint service without proper sanitization or validation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting maliciously crafted requests containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ that bypass normal access controls and allow unauthorized access to files and directories outside the intended scope of the print service. The vulnerability's remote attack vector means that malicious actors can exploit this flaw from external network positions without requiring local system access or credentials. This particular weakness 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.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0598 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, potentially enabling attackers to read sensitive system files, configuration data, or even execute arbitrary code within the affected environment. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the print management infrastructure, as it could allow attackers to access printer configurations, user credentials stored in print-related files, or system-level information that should remain protected. The unspecified impact designation suggests that depending on the system configuration and the specific files accessible through the traversal mechanism, the consequences could range from information disclosure to more severe compromise scenarios. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege by allowing unauthorized access to resources that should be restricted to authorized users only.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Novell's Maintenance Update 9151 or equivalent security patches that address the input validation deficiencies in the iPrint component. Network segmentation strategies should be implemented to limit access to print services to trusted network segments only, while monitoring should be enabled to detect suspicious directory traversal attempts in web server logs. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms in web-based services, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing as attackers could leverage this weakness as part of broader exploitation campaigns. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring solutions can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts targeting this specific directory traversal vulnerability in the iPrint service.