CVE-2015-9263 in Up.Time Monitoring Station
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in post2file.php in Up.Time Monitoring Station 7.5.0 (build 16) and 7.4.0 (build 13). It allows an attacker to upload an arbitrary file, such as a .php file that can execute arbitrary OS commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9263 represents a critical file upload flaw in Up.Time Monitoring Station versions 7.4.0 and 7.5.0. This issue exists within the post2file.php script which processes file uploads without proper validation mechanisms. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with access to the monitoring station interface to upload malicious files that can execute arbitrary operating system commands on the affected server. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of insecure file upload vulnerabilities and is classified as CWE-434, which specifically addresses the improper restriction of file uploads. The attack vector requires an authenticated user context, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts with legitimate access privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the file upload processing logic. When users upload files through the post2file.php endpoint, the application fails to properly verify file types, extensions, or content signatures. This lack of proper validation allows attackers to bypass security checks and upload malicious PHP files that can be executed directly on the web server. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture where file handling operations are not adequately protected against malicious inputs. The weakness creates a direct path for command execution through the uploaded PHP files, enabling attackers to perform arbitrary operations on the underlying operating system. This represents a classic path to remote code execution and privilege escalation within the monitored environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9263 extends beyond simple unauthorized file uploads and can result in complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain persistent access to the monitoring station server, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system enumeration, and further lateral movement within the network. The monitoring station environment typically contains sensitive infrastructure information and may serve as a stepping stone for attacking other systems within the organization's network perimeter. The vulnerability also impacts the integrity and availability of the monitoring services, as attackers can potentially corrupt or destroy monitoring data, leading to false positives or negatives in system alerts. This compromise directly affects the security posture of organizations relying on Up.Time Monitoring Station for infrastructure monitoring and incident response capabilities. The vulnerability's impact aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically PHP, and T1078 for valid accounts, as it leverages legitimate user access to achieve malicious objectives.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting file upload functionality, implementing strict file type validation, and ensuring proper access controls are in place. The recommended approach involves filtering file extensions, validating file content through multiple methods, and storing uploaded files outside the web root directory. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous file upload activities. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious file upload attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly when handling user-supplied data in web applications. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the monitoring infrastructure. Organizations should also review and update their incident response procedures to address potential compromise scenarios involving monitoring station systems. The fix for this vulnerability should include comprehensive code review and remediation of the file upload validation logic to prevent similar issues in future releases.