CVE-2017-13696 in Dup Scout Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
The vulnerability lies in the web server component of Dup Scout Enterprise 9.9.14, Disk Savvy Enterprise 9.9.14, Sync Breeze Enterprise 9.9.16, and Disk Pulse Enterprise 9.9.16 where an attacker can craft a malicious GET request and exploit the web server component. Successful exploitation of the software will allow an attacker to gain complete access to the system with NT AUTHORITY / SYSTEM level privileges. The vulnerability lies due to improper handling and sanitization of the incoming request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13696 represents a critical security flaw within multiple enterprise-grade file management and synchronization products including Dup Scout Enterprise, Disk Savvy Enterprise, Sync Breeze Enterprise, and Disk Pulse Enterprise versions 9.9.14 and 9.9.16 respectively. This vulnerability manifests within the web server components of these applications, which serve as the primary interface for remote administration and file operations. The affected software products are widely deployed in enterprise environments where they manage large-scale file systems and synchronization tasks, making them attractive targets for adversaries seeking persistent system access. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web server implementation, specifically failing to properly sanitize and validate incoming HTTP GET requests that are processed by the application's web interface. This improper handling creates a path for attackers to craft malicious requests that can be interpreted by the vulnerable web server component, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution and complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting specially crafted GET requests that leverage the insufficient sanitization of user input within the web server component. When these malicious requests are processed, they can trigger unintended behavior within the application's web server, potentially allowing an attacker to execute commands with the highest possible privileges available to the application. The vulnerability specifically enables attackers to achieve NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM level privileges, which represents the most privileged account in windows environments and provides complete control over the target system. This level of access allows adversaries to perform actions such as modifying system files, installing malware, creating new user accounts, accessing sensitive data, and establishing persistent backdoors. The flaw operates at the application layer where the web server component fails to properly validate and sanitize all user-supplied input, creating a path for injection attacks that can be leveraged to bypass normal security controls and access system resources directly.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13696 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within enterprise networks. Organizations deploying these vulnerable applications face significant risks including data breaches, system downtime, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, disruption of business operations, and potential compromise of other systems within the network through lateral movement techniques. The affected products are commonly used for file synchronization and monitoring tasks across enterprise environments, making them critical infrastructure components that, when compromised, can provide attackers with persistent access to valuable data repositories. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how insufficient sanitization of user input can lead to severe security consequences. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal sophistication from attackers, making it accessible to threat actors with basic web application exploitation knowledge.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying vendor-provided patches, disabling unnecessary web server components, and implementing network segmentation controls to limit access to these vulnerable applications. The recommended approach involves updating to patched versions of the affected software products, which typically include proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms to prevent malicious requests from being processed. Network-level mitigations such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block suspicious GET requests targeting these vulnerable web interfaces. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and disabling web server functionality when not required can significantly reduce the attack surface. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and command execution, specifically targeting the web application attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting controls and monitoring for unusual system access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other enterprise applications and systems.