CVE-2014-2575 in Aspxfilemanager Control For Webforms And Mvc
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the File Manager component in DevExpress ASPxFileManager Control for ASP.NET WebForms and MVC before 13.1.10 and 13.2.x before 13.2.9 allows remote authenticated users to read or write arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the __EVENTARGUMENT parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2024
The CVE-2014-2575 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the DevExpress ASPxFileManager Control component that affected both ASP.NET WebForms and MVC frameworks. This vulnerability resides in the File Manager's handling of user input parameters, specifically the __EVENTARGUMENT parameter which is used to communicate file operations between client and server components. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to manipulate file system access by exploiting improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately sanitize or restrict directory path navigation sequences.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the __EVENTARGUMENT parameter to include directory traversal sequences such as .. (dot dot) characters. When the ASPxFileManager control processes these malformed parameters, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before executing file operations. This allows attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and access or modify files that should be restricted to authorized users only. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 13.1.10 for the 13.1.x series and 13.2.9 for the 13.2.x series, indicating a widespread issue affecting multiple release branches of the DevExpress framework components.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant security risks to web applications utilizing DevExpress file management controls. Authenticated users can leverage this flaw to read sensitive files such as configuration files, database connection strings, application source code, or other confidential data that may reside on the server filesystem. Additionally, attackers can potentially write malicious content to arbitrary locations, enabling them to compromise the application's integrity and potentially establish persistent access. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with unauthorized file system access that bypasses normal application security controls and authentication mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous in environments where sensitive data processing occurs.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. This classification aligns with the fundamental security principle that applications must properly validate and sanitize all user-supplied input before using it in file system operations. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability would typically be categorized under the privilege escalation and data exposure attack patterns within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping to techniques involving file and directory permissions manipulation and credential access through file system exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2575 require immediate implementation of software updates to versions 13.1.10 or 13.2.9 and later, which contain the necessary patches to address the directory traversal vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional protective measures including input validation controls that explicitly reject or sanitize directory traversal sequences in all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file operation contexts. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the impact of potential exploitation, while comprehensive logging and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized file access attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all applications utilizing DevExpress components to identify and remediate similar issues within their infrastructure.