CVE-2017-1577 in WebSphere Portal
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Portal 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 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. IBM X-Force ID: 132117.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
This vulnerability represents a classic directory traversal flaw that affects multiple versions of IBM WebSphere Portal, specifically 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0. The issue stems from inadequate input validation within the web application's URL parsing mechanism, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file paths through the use of dot-dot-sequence patterns. When an attacker crafts a request containing sequences such as /../ or %2E%2E%2F, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs before processing file access requests, enabling unauthorized access to files outside the intended directory structure. This weakness falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides remote attackers with the ability to access sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially confidential information stored on the web server. An attacker could leverage this flaw to retrieve web application source code, database connection strings, authentication credentials, and other critical system files that should remain protected within the application's restricted directory structure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer, requiring no special privileges or local access, and can be exploited through simple HTTP requests. The attack vector is straightforward and can be automated, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to gather intelligence or escalate their access within the targeted environment.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The most immediate and effective mitigation involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied URL parameters before they are processed by the application. This includes rejecting or encoding any sequences that contain directory traversal patterns, particularly the dot-dot-slash combinations. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious path traversal attempts, and implement proper access controls and least privilege principles to limit the damage even if an attacker successfully exploits the vulnerability. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper secure coding practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for phishing with malicious attachments, as attackers often use such vulnerabilities as initial access points in broader attack campaigns.