CVE-2015-5072 in Remedy AR Reporting
Summary
by MITRE
The BIRT Engine servlet in the AR System Mid Tier component before 9.0 SP1 for BMC Remedy AR System Server allows remote authenticated users to "navigate" to arbitrary local files via the __imageid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5072 affects the BIRT Engine servlet within the AR System Mid Tier component of BMC Remedy AR System Server versions prior to 9.0 SP1. This represents a directory traversal weakness that enables remote authenticated attackers to access arbitrary local files on the server through manipulation of the __imageid parameter. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the servlet's file handling mechanisms, creating a path traversal attack vector that bypasses normal access controls.
The technical flaw manifests when the BIRT Engine servlet processes the __imageid parameter without proper validation of file paths, allowing attackers to construct malicious file paths using directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\. This weakness falls under the CWE-22 category of Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal vulnerabilities. The vulnerability specifically affects the servlet's ability to restrict file access to legitimate resources, enabling attackers to navigate outside the intended directory structure and access sensitive local files that should remain protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using affected BMC Remedy AR System Server versions. Remote authenticated users can potentially access sensitive system files, configuration data, database connection details, and other confidential information stored locally on the server. This could lead to information disclosure, system compromise, and potential escalation of privileges within the affected environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authentication, meaning that any legitimate user with access to the system could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to local files. Attackers could leverage this to extract database credentials, application configuration files, or other sensitive artifacts that could be used for further attacks.
Organizations should immediately apply the security patch provided by BMC Software for version 9.0 SP1 or later, which addresses this directory traversal vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization of the __imageid parameter. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to the AR System Mid Tier component, restricting authentication to trusted networks, and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns in system logs. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use this weakness to gather intelligence for more sophisticated attacks. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system architecture.