CVE-2015-4108 in FTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in Wing FTP Server before 4.4.7 allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that (1) execute arbitrary code via a crafted request to admin_lua_script.html or (2) add a domain administrator via a crafted request to admin_addadmin.html.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2024
The CVE-2015-4108 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting Wing FTP Server versions prior to 4.4.7. This vulnerability exposes the administrative interface to unauthorized manipulation through CSRF attacks that can be executed remotely without authentication. The flaw specifically targets two distinct administrative endpoints within the server's web interface, creating multiple attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to compromise system security. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category for Cross-Site Request Forgery, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the affected administrative pages. When administrators access the admin_lua_script.html or admin_addadmin.html endpoints, the server fails to validate that requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions. This allows attackers to craft malicious requests that, when executed by authenticated administrators, can result in arbitrary code execution or unauthorized administrative account creation. The vulnerability exploits the trust relationship between the web application and the user's browser, leveraging the fact that browsers automatically include authentication cookies with requests to the same domain.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4108 is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing complete system compromise. The first attack vector enables arbitrary code execution through the admin_lua_script.html endpoint, which could permit attackers to install malware, modify server configurations, or exfiltrate sensitive data. The second vector allows for the addition of new domain administrators via the admin_addadmin.html endpoint, effectively granting persistent access to the system. These capabilities align with ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers could establish persistent access and execute malicious code. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with administrative privileges without requiring knowledge of valid credentials, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on Wing FTP Server for file transfer operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4108 primarily involve immediate patching of Wing FTP Server to version 4.4.7 or later, which addresses the CSRF protection gaps in the affected administrative interfaces. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including network segmentation to isolate the FTP server from critical systems, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious CSRF requests, and conducting regular security audits of administrative interfaces. The remediation process should include verifying that all administrative endpoints now properly implement CSRF tokens and that session management mechanisms are robust. Security teams should also review access controls and implement principle of least privilege for FTP server administrative accounts, ensuring that only necessary personnel have access to administrative functions. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of CSRF protection in web-based administrative interfaces and aligns with industry best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten Project and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines for web application security.