CVE-2016-5332 in vRealize Log Insight
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in VMware vRealize Log Insight 2.x and 3.x before 3.6.0 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5332 represents a critical directory traversal flaw affecting VMware vRealize Log Insight versions 2.x and 3.x prior to 3.6.0. This security weakness enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the target system through unspecified attack vectors, potentially leading to unauthorized data access and system compromise. The vulnerability resides within the application's handling of file paths and input validation mechanisms, creating an exploitable condition that could be leveraged by malicious actors without requiring authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this directory traversal vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and inadequate path validation within the vRealize Log Insight application framework. Attackers can manipulate file access requests by crafting specially formatted input that bypasses normal security controls, allowing them to navigate beyond the intended file system boundaries. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically affects the way the software processes user-supplied data that influences file system operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which categorizes directory traversal attacks as a fundamental weakness in input validation, where attackers manipulate file paths to access restricted resources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing VMware vRealize Log Insight for log management and security monitoring. Remote attackers could exploit this weakness to access sensitive configuration files, log data, system credentials, or other confidential information stored within the application's file system. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers might also gain insights into system architecture, potentially enabling further exploitation or lateral movement within the network environment. The vulnerability's remote nature eliminates the need for physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous in cloud or distributed environments.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses any component of the vRealize Log Insight platform that processes user input related to file operations or log data access. Organizations running affected versions should prioritize immediate remediation through the official VMware patch releases. The mitigation strategy involves applying the vendor-supplied security update to version 3.6.0 or later, which addresses the directory traversal flaw through improved input validation and path sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework's application layer attacks categories.