CVE-2014-8788 in FileVista
Summary
by MITRE
GleamTech FileVista before 6.1 allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via a crafted path when saving a zip file, which reveals the installation path in an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8788 affects GleamTech FileVista versions prior to 6.1, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes system paths to authenticated remote attackers. This vulnerability resides within the file handling mechanisms of the application, specifically when processing zip file operations, and demonstrates a classic path traversal or information leakage weakness that can provide adversaries with valuable system reconnaissance data. The flaw occurs when the application processes a crafted path during zip file saving operations, resulting in error messages that inadvertently reveal the underlying installation directory structure. Such information disclosure vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous as they provide attackers with foundational knowledge about the target system's architecture and file system layout, which can be leveraged for subsequent exploitation attempts.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability represents a direct violation of secure coding practices and proper error handling protocols. The application fails to sanitize or properly validate user-supplied paths before incorporating them into error messages, creating a situation where sensitive system information becomes exposed through error reporting mechanisms. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which specifically addresses the exposure of error messages containing sensitive information, and can be categorized under CWE-352, representing Cross-Site Request Forgery, though more directly relates to information disclosure through improper error handling. The vulnerability operates within the application's file management subsystem where zip file operations are processed, and the authentication mechanism fails to properly isolate or sanitize input parameters before they are processed and potentially exposed in error contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical system architecture details that can significantly aid in planning more sophisticated attacks. When an authenticated user submits a maliciously crafted path during zip file operations, the system's error response inadvertently reveals the complete installation path, which can include version information, directory structures, and potentially other sensitive system details. This information can be exploited to craft more targeted attacks against the application or underlying system, as attackers can use the revealed paths to understand the application's deployment structure and potentially identify other vulnerabilities within the same system. The vulnerability affects both the application's security posture and its overall resilience against reconnaissance activities, as it provides a straightforward method for attackers to gather system intelligence without requiring complex exploitation techniques.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of GleamTech FileVista should immediately implement mitigations that focus on proper input validation and error handling procedures. The most effective remediation involves updating to version 6.1 or later, which includes patches addressing the information disclosure vulnerability through improved path validation and error message sanitization. Additionally, administrators should implement strict input validation for all user-supplied paths, particularly those used in file operations, and ensure that error messages do not contain sensitive system information. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers system information discovery, and T1566, representing spearphishing with a malicious attachment, as the information disclosure could be used to craft more convincing social engineering attacks. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual zip file operations and error message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while network segmentation and access controls should limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.