CVE-2015-5149 in SupportCenter Plus
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Zoho ManageEngine SupportCenter Plus 7.90 allows remote authenticated users to write to arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the component parameter in the Request component to workorder/Attachment.jsp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2015-5149 represents a directory traversal flaw in Zoho ManageEngine SupportCenter Plus version 7.90 that exposes a critical security weakness in the application's file handling mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically affects the Request component within the workorder/Attachment.jsp module, where the application fails to properly validate user input containing directory traversal sequences. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to manipulate file paths through the component parameter, enabling them to write files to arbitrary locations on the server filesystem. Such directory traversal vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-22 according to the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which identifies improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory as a fundamental security weakness. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters that are directly incorporated into file system operations without proper security checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file manipulation as it provides attackers with the capability to write malicious files to critical system locations, potentially enabling further exploitation such as web shell deployment or configuration file modification. Attackers can leverage this weakness to escalate privileges, persist on the system, or compromise the integrity of the entire support management platform. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials, but once authenticated, they can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized file system access. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts and T1059.007 which covers command and scripting interpreter for executing malicious code through compromised accounts. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is significant as it can be used to modify application behavior, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish persistent access to the compromised system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5149 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms that prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed in file operations. Organizations should apply the vendor-provided security patches immediately and implement proper access controls to limit the scope of authenticated users' file system interactions. The application should enforce strict path validation that rejects any input containing .. sequences or other directory traversal patterns before processing file operations. Network segmentation and monitoring of file system access patterns can help detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security audits of file system operations can significantly reduce the risk of successful exploitation. Security teams should also consider deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests containing directory traversal sequences, while ensuring that all user-supplied input is properly escaped and validated before being used in any file system operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in preventing path traversal attacks and emphasizes the need for comprehensive security testing of file handling components in enterprise applications.