CVE-2016-8933 in Kenexa LMS on Cloud
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Kenexa LMS on Cloud 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8933 affects IBM Kenexa Learning Management System (LMS) running in cloud environments, representing a critical directory traversal flaw that exposes sensitive system resources to unauthorized access. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation within the application's URL processing mechanism, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file path requests through the exploitation of dot-dot-sequence patterns. The vulnerability specifically impacts the cloud-deployed version of the LMS platform, which is widely used by enterprises for managing employee training and learning content, making it a significant target for cyber adversaries seeking to compromise organizational data assets.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the classic directory traversal attack pattern where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input containing path traversal sequences. When an attacker crafts a URL request incorporating double dot characters followed by forward slashes, the system processes these sequences without adequate validation, resulting in the unintended exposure of files located outside the intended directory structure. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through simple HTTP requests, requiring minimal technical expertise to execute successfully. 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 attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be executed remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can reach the vulnerable system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, potentially exposing sensitive organizational data including employee records, training materials, configuration files, and system logs that may contain credentials or other confidential information. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into system architecture, identify additional security weaknesses, or extract proprietary learning content that could be valuable for competitive intelligence purposes. The cloud deployment model of IBM Kenexa LMS increases the attack surface significantly, as the system may be accessible from multiple network locations and potentially exposed to a broader range of threat actors. Organizations using this platform face potential regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited successfully.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8933 should focus on immediate application-level patches provided by IBM to address the directory traversal vulnerability. Organizations must implement proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms to reject or escape special characters in URL parameters, particularly sequences containing dot-dot notation. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems should be configured to detect and block suspicious path traversal patterns in HTTP requests. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected IBM Kenexa LMS deployment and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the applied patches to prevent service disruption while ensuring complete vulnerability resolution. Additionally, organizations should implement principle of least privilege access controls and regularly audit file access logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing secure coding practices and adhering to the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for path traversal attacks, particularly focusing on input validation and access control measures to prevent unauthorized system resource access.