CVE-2016-5803 in Unified Infrastructure Management
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in CA Unified Infrastructure Management Version 8.47 and earlier. The Unified Infrastructure Management software uses external input to construct a pathname that should be within a restricted directory, but it does not properly neutralize sequences such as ".." that can resolve to a location that is outside of that directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5803 affects CA Unified Infrastructure Management version 8.47 and earlier, representing a critical path traversal flaw that undermines the software's security controls. This issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the application's pathname construction logic, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escape the intended directory boundaries and access unauthorized system resources. The flaw specifically manifests when the software processes external inputs to build file paths, failing to properly sanitize or neutralize potentially dangerous sequences that could manipulate the intended directory scope.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The core flaw occurs because the application does not adequately validate or sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into file path construction operations. When external data containing sequences such as ".." or similar path manipulation indicators is processed, the software fails to properly neutralize these characters, allowing attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory structure. This weakness enables adversaries to traverse the file system hierarchy and potentially access sensitive files, configuration data, or system resources that should remain restricted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and potentially compromise the entire infrastructure management system. Attackers could leverage this flaw to access critical system files, configuration parameters, or sensitive data stored within the application's directory structure, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where unified infrastructure management tools often have elevated privileges and access to critical system resources, making the potential impact of exploitation significantly higher than in typical applications.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions of CA Unified Infrastructure Management. Additionally, input validation controls should be strengthened to explicitly filter or sanitize all external inputs before processing, particularly focusing on removing or neutralizing path traversal sequences such as ".." and similar constructs. Network segmentation and privilege separation measures should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper access controls and monitoring mechanisms can help detect and prevent unauthorized path traversal attempts, while adherence to secure coding practices and regular security testing can prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future development cycles. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect and alert on potential path traversal patterns in their systems, aligning with recommended practices from the ATT&CK framework for defensive measures against file system manipulation attacks.