CVE-2014-9373 in NetFlow Analyzer
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the CollectorConfInfoServlet servlet in ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a .. (dot dot) in the filename.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9373 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer's CollectorConfInfoServlet component. This vulnerability resides in the web application's handling of file operations and specifically affects the servlet responsible for processing configuration information. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate file paths through crafted requests containing directory traversal sequences, specifically the .. (dot dot) notation that is commonly used to navigate up directory levels in file systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the CollectorConfInfoServlet fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied filename parameters before processing file operations. When an attacker submits a request containing directory traversal sequences in the filename parameter, the application processes these sequences without adequate input validation, potentially allowing access to files outside the intended directory scope. This weakness enables attackers to traverse the file system hierarchy and access sensitive configuration files, log files, or potentially execute arbitrary code on the server if the application has write permissions to critical directories.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network monitoring and security infrastructure. NetFlow Analyzer is designed to collect and analyze network traffic data, making it a critical component in network security operations. The ability to execute arbitrary code through directory traversal compromises the integrity and confidentiality of network monitoring data, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to network traffic analysis information, modify configuration settings, or escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer for network traffic analysis and security monitoring.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. This weakness is classified under the broader category of injection flaws and can be exploited as part of the attack chain described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the technique of privilege escalation and persistence. Organizations using this vulnerable software face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to network monitoring capabilities, and possible compromise of their entire network security infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer to the latest version that addresses this directory traversal issue. Network administrators should also implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent directory traversal attacks, including implementing strict file path validation, restricting file access permissions, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious path traversal attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their network monitoring tools and maintain up-to-date vulnerability management processes to prevent similar issues from affecting their security infrastructure.