CVE-2016-4814 in Old_GSI_Maps
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in kml2jsonp.php in Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (aka GSI) Old_GSI_Maps before January 2015 on Windows allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4814 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the kml2jsonp.php script of the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's Old_GSI_Maps system. This issue affected versions prior to January 2015 and specifically impacted Windows environments, creating a significant security risk for users of the geospatial mapping platform. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file path references and access sensitive system files. The affected system operates within a geospatial mapping context where users can interact with KML (Keyhole Markup Language) files to generate JSONP responses, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on geospatial data services.
The technical exploitation of this directory traversal vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that allow remote attackers to manipulate the kml2jsonp.php script to access arbitrary files on the target system. This flaw falls under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve files that should otherwise be protected, including configuration files, database credentials, system logs, and potentially sensitive geospatial data. The attack vector likely involves crafting malicious input parameters that manipulate the script's file handling routines to traverse directories beyond the intended scope, ultimately accessing files in the web root or system directories.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4814 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the geospatial information system. Organizations using the affected GSI mapping platform face potential exposure of sensitive geospatial datasets, including topographical information, location-based services data, and potentially classified mapping information. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or local system credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for public-facing geospatial services. Additionally, the exposure of system files could provide attackers with information useful for further exploitation, including system configuration details, database connection strings, and application source code that could reveal additional vulnerabilities within the platform.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves applying the vendor-supplied patch or upgrade to the Old_GSI_Maps system, which should include proper input validation and sanitization of file path parameters in the kml2jsonp.php script. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that reject or sanitize any input containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, ensuring that all file access operations are confined to predetermined safe directories. Network-level protections should include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious path traversal attempts, while also deploying proper access controls and least privilege principles to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the geospatial information infrastructure, as this type of vulnerability often indicates broader security weaknesses in the system architecture. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use the compromised system to gather information or establish further footholds within the network environment.