CVE-2014-5445 in Netflow Analyzer
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple absolute path traversal vulnerabilities in ZOHO ManageEngine Netflow Analyzer 8.6 through 10.2 and IT360 10.3 allow remote attackers or remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a full pathname in the schFilePath parameter to the (1) CSVServlet or (2) CReportPDFServlet servlet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5445 represents a critical security flaw in ZOHO ManageEngine Netflow Analyzer and IT360 products affecting versions 8.6 through 10.2 and 10.3 respectively. This issue manifests as multiple absolute path traversal vulnerabilities that enable malicious actors to access arbitrary files on the underlying system. The vulnerability specifically targets two servlet components within the application architecture: CSVServlet and CReportPDFServlet, both of which accept user-controllable input through the schFilePath parameter. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict file path access, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's file handling behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a malicious full pathname through the schFilePath parameter to either of the vulnerable servlets. This allows the application to traverse the file system using the provided absolute path, potentially accessing sensitive files that should remain protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited by both remote unauthenticated attackers and authenticated users, expanding the attack surface significantly. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerability, which falls under the broader category of path traversal attacks that have been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent security weaknesses in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5445 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as attackers could potentially retrieve sensitive configuration files, database credentials, application source code, or other confidential information stored on the server. This type of vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques, as attackers may gain access to authentication mechanisms, database connection strings, or administrative credentials. The vulnerability also enables potential data exfiltration and can facilitate further attacks within the network infrastructure, particularly in environments where these applications are deployed. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing with Malicious Attachment) as it provides a method for discovering and accessing sensitive files that could be used in subsequent phases of an attack.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization measures within the affected servlet components. Organizations should implement strict path validation that prevents absolute path traversal by filtering out or rejecting any input containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ characters. The application should enforce a whitelist approach for file access, ensuring that only pre-approved file paths are accessible through the affected servlets. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation within the application architecture can significantly reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. Security patches released by ZOHO ManageEngine should be applied immediately to address this vulnerability, and network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to these critical applications. Regular security testing and code review processes should be established to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack, as this type of weakness has been consistently identified across various web application frameworks and platforms.