CVE-2017-1000438 in original
Summary
by MITRE
In OMERO 5.3.3 or earlier a user could create an OriginalFile and adjust its path such that it now points to another user's file on the underlying filesystem, then manipulate the user's data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000438 resides within the OMERO (Open Microscopy Environment) platform version 5.3.3 and earlier, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the fundamental security boundaries between user accounts. This vulnerability specifically targets the file path handling mechanism within the OriginalFile object management system, creating a privilege escalation pathway that allows malicious users to bypass normal file access controls and manipulate data belonging to other users. The flaw exploits insufficient input validation and path resolution mechanisms that fail to properly validate or sanitize user-provided file paths, enabling attackers to construct malicious file references that point to arbitrary locations within the underlying filesystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of file path parameters during the creation and modification of OriginalFile objects within the OMERO framework. When users create or modify file objects, the system does not adequately verify that the specified file paths remain within designated user boundaries or adhere to proper access control policies. This weakness creates a path traversal condition where an attacker can manipulate the path attribute of an OriginalFile object to reference files outside of their authorized scope, effectively granting unauthorized access to other users' data. The vulnerability operates at the application level, leveraging the trust placed in user-controlled input within the file management subsystem, and can be exploited through the OMERO web interface or API endpoints that handle file operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access, as it enables comprehensive data manipulation and potential exfiltration capabilities for authenticated users. Attackers can not only read files belonging to other users but also modify, delete, or otherwise corrupt data within the system, potentially leading to complete data loss or compromise of sensitive research information. The vulnerability affects the core data integrity and confidentiality mechanisms of the OMERO platform, as it allows users to bypass the normal access control enforcement that should prevent cross-user file access. This flaw particularly impacts research environments where OMERO is used for storing proprietary research data, patient information, or other sensitive materials that require strict access controls and data isolation between users or research groups.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and path sanitization mechanisms within the OMERO platform. Organizations should upgrade to OMERO versions that have addressed this vulnerability through proper path validation and access control enforcement, ensuring that all user-provided file paths are validated against authorized directories and that proper access control checks are performed before file operations are executed. The fix should implement a whitelist approach for file paths, ensuring that all file references are validated against a predetermined set of allowed directories and that absolute paths are properly normalized and checked for traversal attempts. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect suspicious file access patterns and unauthorized path manipulations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 (Path Traversal) and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation that can be addressed through proper secure coding practices and adherence to the principle of least privilege in file system access controls.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is primarily limited to authenticated users within the OMERO platform, making it a privilege escalation issue rather than a direct remote code execution vulnerability. However, the impact remains severe as it allows users to access and manipulate data belonging to other users without proper authorization. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing robust access control mechanisms at multiple layers of the application stack, including proper validation of user inputs and enforcement of access control policies. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their OMERO installations and ensure that all users have appropriate access controls and that system administrators maintain up-to-date security patches to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities.