CVE-2015-2996 in Help Desk
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in SysAid Help Desk before 15.2 allow remote attackers to (1) read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the fileName parameter to getGfiUpgradeFile or (2) cause a denial of service (CPU and memory consumption) via a .. (dot dot) in the fileName parameter to calculateRdsFileChecksum.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2024
The CVE-2015-2996 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw in SysAid Help Desk software versions prior to 15.2, exposing organizations to significant security risks. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the software's file handling mechanisms, specifically affecting two distinct functions that process file name parameters. The flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the system through manipulation of the fileName parameter, creating pathways for unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input, permitting attackers to navigate the file system beyond intended boundaries and access files that should remain protected. This represents a classic case of improper input validation that violates fundamental security principles.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of directory traversal sequences using double dots or dot dot notation. In the first scenario, attackers can leverage the getGfiUpgradeFile function to read arbitrary files from the server by injecting .. sequences into the fileName parameter. This allows for unauthorized access to system files, configuration data, and potentially sensitive information stored within the application's file system. The second vulnerability targets the calculateRdsFileChecksum function where similar directory traversal techniques can be employed to cause denial of service conditions. This occurs when the system attempts to process malformed file paths, leading to excessive CPU and memory consumption that can render the service unavailable to legitimate users. Both attack vectors demonstrate the same underlying flaw in input handling, where the software fails to properly validate or sanitize file path parameters before processing them.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2996 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, creating cascading security implications for organizations relying on SysAid Help Desk for their IT support operations. Remote attackers can potentially extract sensitive configuration files, user data, system logs, and other confidential information through the file reading vulnerability. The denial of service component creates additional operational concerns as it can be used to disrupt critical help desk services, impacting business continuity and user productivity. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues if sensitive data is accessed or if services are disrupted, particularly in environments governed by standards such as iso 27001 or soc 2. The vulnerability affects the availability and confidentiality aspects of the CIA triad, potentially compromising both data integrity and system availability. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to gain insights into the system architecture, identify other potential targets, and establish persistent access points within the network environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2996 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the affected software components. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied file path parameters undergo rigorous validation before processing, including the removal or encoding of directory traversal sequences such as .. or \. The recommended approach involves implementing a whitelist-based validation system that only accepts predefined, safe file paths and rejects any input containing potentially dangerous sequences. System administrators should also apply the vendor-provided security patches and updates for SysAid Help Desk versions prior to 15.2, as these releases contain fixes specifically addressing the directory traversal vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access controls can provide additional layers of protection by limiting the scope of potential attacks and reducing the attack surface. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns or excessive resource consumption that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 directory traversal and CWE-400 denial of service categories, and represents a technique commonly categorized under ATT&CK tactic TA0001 initial access and TA0005 defense evasion. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and systems within their infrastructure.