CVE-2015-8276 in eParakstitajs
Summary
by MITRE
LVRTC eParakstitajs 3.0 (1.3.0) and edoc-libraries-2.5.4_01 allow attackers to read arbitrary files via crafted EDOC files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8276 affects LVRTC eParakstitajs version 3.0 (1.3.0) and edoc-libraries version 2.5.4_01, representing a critical file inclusion flaw that enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected system. This vulnerability resides within the document processing framework that handles EDOC file formats, which are commonly used for electronic document management in Latvian government and organizational contexts. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper file path handling during the processing of EDOC documents, creating a path traversal condition that allows malicious actors to bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive files from the server filesystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal attack vector where crafted EDOC files contain malicious file references that exploit the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input. When the vulnerable software processes these specially constructed documents, it fails to validate or restrict file paths, allowing attackers to specify arbitrary file locations within the system's file hierarchy. This weakness specifically affects the document parsing and rendering components that handle EDOC format metadata and content references, where the software directly incorporates user-provided file paths without adequate sanitization or access control checks. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through web interfaces or document upload mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users can submit documents for processing.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8276 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as attackers can potentially access sensitive system files including configuration data, database credentials, application source code, and user personal information. This vulnerability directly violates multiple security principles including the principle of least privilege and proper input validation, creating a persistent threat that can be exploited repeatedly without requiring authentication. The attack surface includes not only the targeted application but potentially the entire underlying operating system, as attackers can traverse directories to access system files, logs, and other sensitive resources that should remain protected from unauthorized access. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in government and public sector environments where EDOC files often contain classified or personally identifiable information, making the potential data breach impact significantly higher than typical application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8276 should focus on immediate patch application to the affected software versions, as well as implementing robust input validation and file path sanitization measures. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious file path references, while also implementing strict access controls and privilege separation for document processing components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-77 Path Traversal, which are categorized under the software security domain of input validation failures. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1074 Data Staged, as attackers can harvest sensitive files from the compromised system, and potentially T1566 Phishing with Malicious Attachments when EDOC files are used as attack vectors. Regular security assessments and code reviews should specifically target file handling functions to prevent similar path traversal vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles, while also implementing automated scanning tools to detect malformed EDOC file structures before they can be processed by the vulnerable application.