CVE-2017-10949 in Storage Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Directory Traversal in Dell Storage Manager 2016 R2.1 causes Information Disclosure when the doGet method of the EmWebsiteServlet class doesn't properly validate user provided path before using it in file operations. Was ZDI-CAN-4459.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10949 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Dell Storage Manager 2016 R2.1 that exposes sensitive information through improper input validation mechanisms. This weakness specifically manifests in the EmWebsiteServlet class where the doGet method fails to adequately sanitize user-provided paths before executing file operations, creating an avenue for unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of input parameters that are directly incorporated into file system operations without proper sanitization or restriction checks.
The technical implementation of this flaw allows attackers to manipulate the path parameter through HTTP requests to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and access files that should remain restricted. When the doGet method processes user input, it directly uses the provided path value in file operations without validating whether the path contains directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ that could enable access to parent directories. This improper input handling creates a condition where arbitrary file access becomes possible, potentially exposing sensitive system files, configuration data, or other confidential information stored within the application's directory structure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing Dell Storage Manager 2016 R2.1 as it enables attackers to extract potentially sensitive data from the storage management system. The information disclosure could include system configuration files, user credentials, storage device configurations, or other proprietary data that could be leveraged for further attacks. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as this vulnerability could facilitate privilege escalation or provide attackers with insights into the storage infrastructure that could be used to plan more sophisticated attacks against the organization's storage environment. This weakness aligns with CWE-22 Directory Traversal vulnerability classification and represents a common attack vector that has been consistently identified across various software platforms and applications.
The exploitability of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through standard web application attack techniques, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with limited security resources. Attackers can craft malicious HTTP requests that include directory traversal sequences to access files outside the intended application scope. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper access control mechanisms in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive infrastructure data. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input sanitization, path validation, and access restriction controls to prevent unauthorized file access. The vulnerability also highlights the necessity of regular security assessments and patch management procedures to address known weaknesses in enterprise storage management systems. This issue falls under the ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries attempt to enumerate file systems and identify sensitive data locations through directory traversal attacks.