CVE-2016-1212 in Form Mail CGI
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in futomi MP Form Mail CGI Professional Edition 3.2.3 and earlier allows remote authenticated administrators to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1212 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting futomi MP Form Mail CGI Professional Edition versions 3.2.3 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of file operations within its web interface, specifically targeting authenticated administrative users who possess sufficient privileges to exploit the vulnerability. The flaw allows attackers with administrative access to manipulate file system paths and gain unauthorized access to sensitive files stored on the server. Directory traversal vulnerabilities of this nature typically occur when applications fail to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input that influences file system operations, creating opportunities for attackers to navigate beyond intended directories and access restricted resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the CGI application's file handling routines. When administrative users interact with the form mail functionality, the application processes user-provided parameters without proper sanitization, enabling malicious input to manipulate the file system path resolution. Attackers can exploit this by crafting specific input sequences that bypass normal path restrictions and traverse directories to access files outside the intended application scope. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-22, which specifically addresses "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')", and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers "File and Directory Discovery" as part of the reconnaissance phase in cyber operations. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only authenticated administrative access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative privileges are compromised or where privilege escalation attacks are successful.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1212 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access to potentially expose sensitive system information, configuration files, database credentials, and other confidential data. An attacker with administrative privileges can leverage this vulnerability to extract critical system information including but not limited to application configuration files, database connection strings, user credentials, and potentially system-level files that could provide further attack vectors. This vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, enabling threat actors to gather intelligence about the target environment and potentially escalate their privileges further. The exposure of sensitive configuration data could lead to additional vulnerabilities being exploited, while the access to user credentials might allow for lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1212 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected futomi MP Form Mail CGI application to the latest available version that addresses the directory traversal vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures to ensure that all user-supplied parameters are properly validated before being processed in file system operations. Network segmentation and privilege separation should be enforced to limit the impact of potential compromise, ensuring that administrative access is strictly controlled and monitored. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and systems. Implementing web application firewalls and configuring proper access controls can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the necessity of keeping software components up to date with security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.