CVE-2014-2352 in DataHub
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Cogent DataHub before 7.3.5 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files of unspecified types, or cause a web-server denial of service, via a crafted pathname.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2352 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Cogent DataHub software versions prior to 7.3.5. This weakness resides in the web server component responsible for handling file requests and path resolution, creating a significant security risk for systems utilizing this industrial automation platform. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied pathnames before processing them within the file system context.
This directory traversal vulnerability operates by exploiting insufficient validation of file path parameters submitted through web requests. Attackers can craft malicious pathname sequences that manipulate the application's file resolution logic to access files outside the intended directory boundaries. The flaw specifically affects the web server's handling of file operations, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially system resources that should remain protected from remote access. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential denial of service conditions when malicious path sequences cause the web server to consume excessive resources or crash.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially access files with elevated privileges, including system configuration files, user credentials, or other sensitive data stored within the application's file system hierarchy. The unspecified nature of file types that can be accessed indicates the vulnerability affects multiple file categories, making the potential impact more severe and unpredictable. The web server component likely processes user input without proper sanitization, allowing special characters such as ../ or ..\ sequences to traverse directory structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate data exposure to encompass potential system compromise and service disruption. Remote attackers could leverage this weakness to gather intelligence about system configurations, access sensitive operational data, or cause denial of service conditions that would impact industrial automation processes. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where Cogent DataHub serves as a central point for industrial data management, as it could provide attackers with access to critical operational information that might be used for further attacks or system disruption. Organizations relying on this platform for industrial control systems face significant risk from adversaries who could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to operational data or disrupt system availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2352 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 7.3.5 or later, which contain patches addressing the directory traversal vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to affected systems and deploy web application firewalls to filter malicious path sequences. Input validation controls should be strengthened to prevent improper path resolution, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure least privilege principles are enforced. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application), indicating the attack patterns that adversaries might employ to exploit such weaknesses. System administrators should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify additional vulnerabilities within industrial control systems and implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.