CVE-2016-8205 in Network Advisor
Summary
by MITRE
A Directory Traversal vulnerability in DashboardFileReceiveServlet 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-2016-8205 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Brocade Network Advisor software ecosystem. This security weakness specifically affects the DashboardFileReceiveServlet component, which serves as a file upload handler for network management operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper path handling during file upload processes, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to manipulate file placement within the target system's file hierarchy.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the file upload destination through carefully crafted directory traversal sequences. When the DashboardFileReceiveServlet processes incoming files, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the file path parameters, allowing malicious actors to inject sequences such as "../" that can navigate outside of intended directories. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for network management systems that are often accessible over the network. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file uploads, as attackers can potentially place malicious executables in critical system directories. This capability enables a range of malicious activities including privilege escalation, persistent backdoor installation, and system compromise. Network administrators who rely on Brocade Network Advisor for infrastructure monitoring face significant risk since the vulnerability could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to network management functions and potentially escalate privileges within the broader network infrastructure. The affected versions through 14.0.2 represent a substantial attack surface given the widespread deployment of Brocade Network Advisor in enterprise environments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable application, and configuring proper input validation controls. The remediation process should involve thorough network scanning to identify all affected systems and application servers running vulnerable versions of Brocade Network Advisor. Additionally, security teams should monitor for suspicious file upload activities and implement file type restrictions to prevent execution of potentially malicious content. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in network management applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and script injection through improper input handling. The incident highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of network management tools and the critical importance of keeping enterprise network infrastructure software up to date with security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.