CVE-2016-8913 in Kenexa LMS on Cloud
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Kenexa LMS on Cloud 13.1 and 13.2 - 13.2.4 could allow a remote attacker to traverse directories on the system. An attacker could send a specially-crafted URL request containing "dot dot" sequences (/../) to view arbitrary files on the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2020
IBM Kenexa LMS on Cloud versions 13.1 through 13.2.4 contains a directory traversal vulnerability that allows remote attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure. This flaw stems from insufficient input validation in the application's handling of URL requests containing dot-dot-slash sequences, which are commonly used to navigate upward in directory hierarchies. The vulnerability is classified as a path traversal attack where malicious input can manipulate the application's file access mechanisms to retrieve unauthorized data. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, a well-documented vulnerability pattern that affects numerous applications and systems across the industry. The attack vector requires a remote attacker to craft a specially formatted URL request that includes directory traversal sequences such as /../ or %2e%2e%2f, which when processed by the vulnerable application can lead to unauthorized file access. The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it could enable attackers to access sensitive configuration files, user data, application source code, or other system resources that should remain protected. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a technique categorized under T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries seek to understand the system's file structure and locate sensitive information. The vulnerability affects the web application layer of IBM Kenexa LMS, potentially exposing not only application files but also underlying system files that could contain credentials, database connection strings, or other sensitive information. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gain insights into the system architecture and potentially escalate privileges or extract confidential data. Organizations using these affected versions should prioritize patching and implementation of web application firewalls to prevent directory traversal attempts. The remediation involves proper input validation and sanitization of user-supplied URL parameters, ensuring that path traversal sequences are rejected or properly encoded before being processed by the application. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and least privilege principles can help minimize the potential impact if such vulnerabilities are exploited.