CVE-2016-8204 in Network Advisor
Summary
by MITRE
A Directory Traversal vulnerability in FileReceiveServlet in the Brocade Network Advisor versions released prior to and including 14.0.2 could allow remote attackers to upload a malicious file in a section of the file system where it can be executed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8204 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the FileReceiveServlet component of Brocade Network Advisor software. This security weakness affects versions released prior to and including 14.0.2, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to the underlying file system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied file paths during the file upload process, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the destination directory where uploaded files are stored.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted file upload requests that leverage directory traversal sequences to bypass normal file system access controls. When a remote attacker submits a malicious file through the vulnerable servlet, the application processes the file path without sufficient validation, enabling the attacker to specify arbitrary directory locations where the uploaded file will be stored. This flaw directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability allows attackers to place executable files in system directories where they can be executed with elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to network infrastructure security as it enables remote code execution capabilities without requiring authentication. Attackers can leverage this weakness to upload malicious payloads such as web shells, backdoors, or other exploit frameworks that can persist on the system and provide ongoing access. The impact extends beyond simple file manipulation as the vulnerability can be exploited to escalate privileges, install persistent malware, or establish command and control channels. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability corresponds to techniques such as T1059 for command and script interpreter and T1078 for valid accounts, as attackers can use the uploaded files to maintain persistence and execute malicious commands within the network environment.
Organizations running affected Brocade Network Advisor versions face significant operational risks including potential data breaches, system compromise, and network infiltration. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target systems from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or prior authentication credentials. Security teams must implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches, implementing network segmentation, and monitoring for suspicious file upload activities. Additional protective measures should include restricting file upload capabilities, implementing strict file type validation, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious path traversal attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms in network management applications that handle user-supplied data, particularly when dealing with file system operations that could impact system integrity and security posture.