CVE-2015-0933 in Sharelatex
Summary
by MITRE
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in ShareLaTeX 0.1.3 and earlier, when the paranoid openin_any setting is omitted, allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a \include command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2024
The CVE-2015-0933 vulnerability represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw in ShareLaTeX versions 0.1.3 and earlier, exploiting a configuration oversight that fundamentally undermines the security boundaries of the platform. This vulnerability specifically targets the document processing pipeline where LaTeX files are compiled, creating an attack vector that allows authenticated users to bypass normal file access controls and retrieve arbitrary system files. The flaw manifests when the paranoid openin_any setting is omitted from the LaTeX configuration, leaving the system vulnerable to malicious file inclusion attempts that can traverse the filesystem beyond intended boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the \include command within LaTeX documents, which is designed to incorporate external files into the main document compilation process. When the paranoid openin_any setting is not enabled, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize file paths specified in include directives, allowing attackers to manipulate these commands to access files outside of the designated working directory. This occurs because the LaTeX processing engine does not adequately restrict file access based on the current working directory, enabling attackers to construct malicious include paths that traverse parent directories using standard path traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive system files including configuration files, user data, and potentially system credentials that may be stored in accessible locations. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can be exploited to gain insights into the underlying system architecture, potentially enabling further attacks or escalation of privileges. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this flaw to access files that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 - Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory and maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1083 - File and Directory Discovery and T1566 - Phishing with Malicious Attachments, as it enables attackers to discover and extract sensitive files from the target system. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the input validation and access control mechanisms within the LaTeX processing environment, where the system fails to enforce proper path sanitization even when users have legitimate access to the platform. Organizations using affected versions of ShareLaTeX should immediately implement mitigations including enabling the paranoid openin_any setting, implementing strict file access controls, and conducting comprehensive security reviews of all LaTeX processing configurations to prevent exploitation of this and similar path traversal vulnerabilities.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2015-0933 requires immediate deployment of patches to upgrade to ShareLaTeX versions that properly implement path validation and access controls. System administrators should ensure that the paranoid openin_any setting is enabled in all LaTeX processing configurations to prevent arbitrary file access through include commands. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of file access patterns and establish strict file inclusion policies that prevent traversal beyond designated directories. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper security configuration management and demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration omissions can lead to severe security implications in document processing environments.