CVE-2015-3897 in BPM Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Bonita BPM Portal before 6.5.3 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the theme parameter and a file path in the location parameter to bonita/portal/themeResource.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2024
The CVE-2015-3897 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw in Bonita BPM Portal versions prior to 6.5.3, exposing organizations to significant security risks through remote code execution and data exfiltration capabilities. This vulnerability specifically affects the themeResource endpoint within the bonita/portal path, where improper input validation allows attackers to manipulate file paths through crafted requests containing directory traversal sequences. The flaw operates by accepting user-supplied parameters including a theme parameter with .. (dot dot) sequences and a location parameter that specifies file paths, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive system files that should remain protected from external inspection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user inputs within the Bonita BPM Portal's theme resource handling mechanism. When the application processes requests to the bonita/portal/themeResource endpoint, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the theme parameter containing directory traversal sequences, allowing attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries. The location parameter further amplifies this issue by accepting arbitrary file path specifications that can reference system files, configuration data, or sensitive resources within the application's file system. This combination creates a pathway for attackers to access files that should be restricted to authorized personnel only, including application configuration files, database connection details, and potentially system-level information.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3897 extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential system compromise and data breach scenarios. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can extract sensitive configuration files that may contain database credentials, encryption keys, or other critical system information that could facilitate further attacks. The vulnerability enables unauthorized access to application logs, user data, and potentially system files that could reveal implementation details, leading to additional attack vectors. Organizations running affected versions of Bonita BPM Portal face elevated risk of unauthorized data access, system reconnaissance, and potential privilege escalation attacks that could result in complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to version 6.5.3 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement network-level restrictions to limit access to the bonita/portal/themeResource endpoint and establish robust input validation controls that prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed. The implementation of proper access controls and privilege separation within the application can help minimize the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Bonita BPM Portal deployments to identify potential similar vulnerabilities in other endpoints and ensure that all user inputs are properly validated before processing. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 directory traversal weaknesses and represents a typical example of how insufficient input validation can create severe security implications, as outlined in various ATT&CK framework techniques for privilege escalation and credential access.