CVE-2015-1977 in Tivoli Directory Server
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the Web Administration tool in IBM Tivoli Directory Server (ITDS) before 6.1.0.74-ISS-ISDS-IF0074, 6.2.x before 6.2.0.50-ISS-ISDS-IF0050, and 6.3.x before 6.3.0.43-ISS-ISDS-IF0043 and IBM Security Directory Server (ISDS) before 6.3.1.18-ISS-ISDS-IF0018 and 6.4.x before 6.4.0.9-ISS-ISDS-IF0009 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in a URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1977 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within IBM Tivoli Directory Server and IBM Security Directory Server web administration interfaces. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied URL parameters containing directory traversal sequences such as .. (dot dot). The vulnerability affects multiple versions of IBM's directory services products, specifically impacting releases prior to the mentioned patch levels including 6.1.0.74, 6.2.0.50, 6.3.0.43, 6.3.1.18, and 6.4.0.9. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the web interface by crafting malicious URLs that include directory traversal sequences, thereby gaining unauthorized access to arbitrary files on the underlying file system. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which defines the weakness as improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially allow attackers to access sensitive configuration files, authentication credentials, and other critical system resources that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2015-1977 occurs through the web administration tool's insufficient validation of URL parameters, which fails to properly filter or sanitize input containing directory traversal sequences. When a user submits a URL containing .. sequences to the vulnerable web interface, the application processes these sequences without adequate restrictions, allowing the attacker to navigate beyond the intended directory structure and access files outside the designated web root. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers from any network location. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal access controls and retrieve files that should be restricted, potentially including sensitive data such as database connection strings, encryption keys, or other system configuration files. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which describes the discovery of files and directories, and T1566, which covers the exploitation of remote services through various attack vectors including web application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing affected IBM directory server products, as it creates potential pathways for data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, and privilege escalation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access not only configuration files but also potentially sensitive user data, system logs, and other resources that may contain intellectual property or personally identifiable information. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or network privileges to carry out attacks, significantly expanding the potential attack surface. Organizations may experience regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited successfully. The vulnerability also impacts the overall security posture by potentially providing attackers with information that could be used to launch more sophisticated attacks against other systems within the network. Security teams face the challenge of identifying and patching affected systems across potentially multiple environments, as the vulnerability affects different major versions of IBM's directory server products and requires careful version management to ensure proper remediation. The exploitation of this vulnerability can also be automated, making it a preferred target for mass exploitation campaigns and increasing the potential for widespread impact across organizations using vulnerable versions of IBM directory services software.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address CVE-2015-1977, beginning with the deployment of official patches and updates provided by IBM for the affected versions. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing configurations and applications. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit access to the web administration interfaces, reducing the attack surface and providing additional layers of protection. Regular monitoring of network traffic for suspicious URL patterns and directory traversal attempts should be implemented using intrusion detection systems and web application firewalls. Input validation controls should be strengthened at the application level to prevent the processing of URL parameters containing potentially malicious directory traversal sequences. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions of IBM Tivoli Directory Server or IBM Security Directory Server, ensuring that all instances are properly updated. Additionally, organizations should implement logging and audit controls that can detect and alert on unauthorized access attempts to sensitive system resources, providing visibility into potential exploitation attempts. The mitigation approach should also include regular security awareness training for administrators to recognize potential exploitation attempts and maintain updated security configurations that align with industry best practices for web application security.