CVE-2015-2060 in cabextract
Summary
by MITRE
cabextract before 1.6 does not properly check for leading slashes when extracting files, which allows remote attackers to conduct absolute directory traversal attacks via a malformed UTF-8 character that is changed to a UTF-8 encoded slash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2060 affects the cabextract utility version 1.6 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw in how the software handles file extraction from cabinet archives. This issue stems from inadequate validation of file paths during the extraction process, specifically failing to properly sanitize leading slashes in file names. The vulnerability manifests when cabextract encounters malformed UTF-8 characters that are subsequently interpreted as UTF-8 encoded slashes, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the extraction behavior. This flaw represents a classic directory traversal vulnerability that can be exploited to write files outside of the intended extraction directory, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the normal processing of UTF-8 encoded characters, making it difficult to detect through standard security scanning mechanisms. The flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to conduct absolute directory traversal attacks by crafting specially formatted cabinet files that contain UTF-8 characters designed to be interpreted as forward slashes. When the cabextract utility processes these malformed entries, it fails to properly validate the resulting file paths, enabling attackers to specify absolute paths outside the intended target directory. This can result in overwriting critical system files, creating backdoors, or executing malicious code with the privileges of the user running the extraction utility. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it requires no special privileges or local access, as attackers can exploit this vulnerability through remote delivery of malicious cabinet files. The impact extends beyond simple file manipulation to potentially compromise entire system integrity, especially when the utility is used in automated environments or web applications that process user-uploaded cabinet files. Organizations using vulnerable versions of cabextract should immediately implement mitigations including updating to version 1.6 or later, implementing strict file path validation, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and validation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, where attackers could potentially leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands through crafted file paths. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the need for comprehensive testing of international character handling in security-critical software components, as the issue specifically involves UTF-8 character encoding manipulation. The flaw serves as a reminder that seemingly benign character encoding processing can introduce significant security risks when proper validation and sanitization measures are not implemented. System administrators should also consider implementing file access controls and monitoring for unauthorized file modifications in system directories, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access to compromised systems through the creation or modification of critical system files.