CVE-2017-11440 in Sitecore
Summary
by MITRE
In Sitecore 8.2, there is absolute path traversal via the shell/Applications/Layouts/IDE.aspx fi parameter and the admin/LinqScratchPad.aspx Reference parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11440 represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw affecting Sitecore 8.2 content management systems. This vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors within the Sitecore administrative interface, specifically targeting the shell/Applications/Layouts/IDE.aspx endpoint with the fi parameter and the admin/LinqScratchPad.aspx endpoint with the Reference parameter. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with administrative privileges to manipulate file path parameters and access arbitrary files on the server filesystem, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, system compromise, and privilege escalation. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of file path parameters within these administrative components, creating an avenue for attackers to bypass normal access controls and traverse the file system beyond intended boundaries.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The technical implementation involves the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input parameters before using them in file system operations. When the fi parameter in IDE.aspx or the Reference parameter in LinqScratchPad.aspx receives malicious input containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, the application processes these paths without adequate restrictions, allowing access to files outside the intended application directory structure. The attack requires administrative access to exploit, as these endpoints are typically restricted to authorized users, but the impact remains severe due to the potential for privilege escalation and information disclosure.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11440 extends beyond simple file access, as it enables attackers to potentially read sensitive configuration files, database connection strings, and other administrative resources that could lead to further exploitation. The vulnerability can be leveraged to extract application source code, access system configuration files, and potentially gain insights into the underlying infrastructure. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection and T1083 for file and directory discovery, as attackers could use the path traversal to enumerate system resources and gather intelligence. The administrative nature of the affected endpoints means that successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges and access to sensitive administrative functions within the Sitecore platform.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all file path parameters within the affected components. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input is strictly validated against a whitelist of allowed characters and patterns, with no directory traversal sequences permitted. The recommended approach involves implementing proper path normalization and canonicalization functions that resolve all relative paths to their absolute equivalents while ensuring they remain within designated directories. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting access to these administrative endpoints to only authorized personnel and implementing robust authentication mechanisms. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be prioritized to address known vulnerabilities in content management systems. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation at multiple layers within applications, as demonstrated by the need to validate parameters at both the application logic level and the file system access level to prevent path traversal attacks that could compromise system integrity and data confidentiality.