CVE-2016-7087 in Horizon View
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the Connection Server in VMware Horizon View 5.x before 5.3.7, 6.x before 6.2.3, and 7.x before 7.0.1 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2022
The CVE-2016-7087 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within VMware Horizon View's Connection Server component, affecting multiple version ranges including 5.x before 5.3.7, 6.x before 6.2.3, and 7.x before 7.0.1. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw enables remote attackers to access sensitive information through unspecified vectors that exploit inadequate input validation mechanisms within the connection server's file handling processes. The vulnerability resides in the server's inability to properly sanitize user-supplied input when processing file paths, creating opportunities for malicious actors to navigate beyond intended directories and access restricted system files or data. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in virtual desktop infrastructure environments where the connection server acts as a critical gateway between users and virtual desktops, potentially exposing confidential information about system configurations, user credentials, or internal network structures. The attack vector leverages the lack of proper path validation controls that should normally prevent users from accessing files outside of designated directories through crafted requests that manipulate file path parameters. Such vulnerabilities often align with ATT&CK technique T1083, which involves discovering file and directory permissions, as attackers can use directory traversal to enumerate system resources and gather intelligence for further exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7087 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can provide attackers with sufficient data to plan more sophisticated attacks against the VMware Horizon environment. Remote attackers can potentially access configuration files that may contain database connection strings, encryption keys, or other sensitive system parameters that could facilitate privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams indicates a fundamental flaw in the codebase that affected VMware's connection server implementation across different product generations, suggesting that the input validation mechanisms were not properly implemented or consistently applied throughout the software lifecycle. This weakness in the connection server's file handling capabilities creates a persistent risk for organizations using VMware Horizon View, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring authentication or special privileges, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to gather intelligence about virtual desktop environments. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the original description suggest that the vulnerability could be triggered through various means including web requests, API calls, or other communication protocols that the connection server uses to process user requests, complicating the identification and remediation of all potential attack surfaces.
Organizations affected by CVE-2016-7087 should prioritize immediate patching of their VMware Horizon View installations to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability represents a significant security risk in virtual desktop infrastructure deployments. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the vendor-provided security patches that address the directory traversal flaw by implementing proper input validation and path sanitization controls within the connection server's file handling processes. Security teams should also implement network-level controls such as firewalls and access control lists to limit exposure of the connection server to untrusted networks, while monitoring for suspicious file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their virtual desktop environments to identify any additional vulnerabilities that might be present in related components or configurations that could be exploited in conjunction with this directory traversal flaw. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in enterprise software development, particularly for components that handle user-supplied data in file system operations, as the lack of such controls can lead to severe information disclosure and potential system compromise. Implementing defense-in-depth strategies including regular security audits, network segmentation, and continuous monitoring will help organizations maintain robust security postures against similar vulnerabilities that may arise in virtualization and desktop infrastructure environments.