CVE-2014-5068 in s350i
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the web application in Symmetricom s350i 2.70.15 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a (1) ../ (dot dot slash) or (2) ..\ (dot dot forward slash) before a file name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2019
The CVE-2014-5068 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the web application interface of Symmetricom s350i network time server version 2.70.15. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied file path parameters. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate file access requests by prepending malicious path traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ before target filenames. These sequences enable attackers to navigate outside the intended directory structure and access files that should remain restricted. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based management interface of the device, which typically serves configuration files, logs, and other sensitive system data through HTTP requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the web application processes user input containing directory traversal sequences without proper validation or sanitization. When an attacker submits a request with ../ or ..\ sequences followed by a target filename, the application interprets these sequences as legitimate navigation commands rather than malicious input. This allows the attacker to traverse the file system hierarchy and access files outside the web root directory. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can reach the device's web interface. The affected system processes these traversal sequences through standard file system APIs without implementing proper boundary checks or path validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5068 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, potentially compromising the entire system security posture. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive configuration files that may contain system passwords, network credentials, or cryptographic keys. Additionally, the ability to read system logs and other administrative files provides attackers with valuable information for further exploitation and system reconnaissance. The vulnerability can also be used to access firmware files or system binaries, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as firmware modification or privilege escalation. Organizations running Symmetricom s350i devices with affected firmware versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their time synchronization infrastructure, which could compromise network security and integrity. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in CWE-22, which addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 for discovering system information through directory traversal methods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5068 should include immediate firmware updates from Symmetricom to address the directory traversal vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to restrict access to the s350i device's web interface, limiting exposure to only authorized administrative networks. Network access control lists and firewall rules should be configured to block direct access to the device's web management interface from untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls or intrusion prevention systems can help detect and block malicious directory traversal attempts. Security administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected device within their network infrastructure and ensure proper access controls are in place. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, while maintaining detailed network traffic logs for forensic analysis purposes. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper path handling in web applications, as outlined in industry best practices for secure coding and application security.