CVE-2017-16108 in gaoxiaotingtingting
Summary
by MITRE
gaoxiaotingtingting is an HTTP server. gaoxiaotingtingting is vulnerable to a directory traversal issue, giving an attacker access to the filesystem by placing "../" in the url.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2020
The gaoxiaotingtingting HTTP server presents a critical directory traversal vulnerability that fundamentally compromises the security boundaries of the affected system. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation within the server's URL parsing mechanism, allowing remote attackers to manipulate file paths through crafted requests containing "../" sequences. The flaw enables unauthorized access to arbitrary files on the server's filesystem, potentially exposing sensitive data, configuration files, and system resources that should remain protected. Such a vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of access control and data isolation, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass normal security restrictions and gain unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the server's failure to properly sanitize and validate file path inputs received through HTTP requests. When the server processes URLs containing directory traversal sequences, it does not adequately verify that the requested paths remain within the intended document root directory. This allows attackers to navigate upward through the directory structure using standard Unix-style path traversal techniques, potentially accessing files outside the web server's designated serving directory. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through simple HTTP GET requests without requiring authentication or specialized tools, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web servers.
The operational impact of this directory traversal vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential system compromise and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this weakness to access sensitive system files including configuration databases, user credentials, application source code, and system logs. In environments where the web server runs with elevated privileges, this vulnerability could potentially enable privilege escalation attacks or allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the underlying system. The exposure of system files and configuration data creates opportunities for further exploitation, including the discovery of additional vulnerabilities, credential harvesting, and the development of more sophisticated attack vectors. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Directory Traversal and is categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and path sanitization measures within the HTTP server's request processing pipeline. Organizations should implement strict path validation that prevents any traversal sequences from accessing parent directories, ensuring that all file paths are resolved within the designated document root. The server should enforce absolute path resolution and reject any requests containing ".." sequences or other path traversal indicators. Additionally, the web server should be configured with minimal privileges and run under dedicated user accounts with limited system access rights. Regular security auditing and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. This remediation approach addresses the core weakness identified in the vulnerability and aligns with industry best practices for preventing directory traversal attacks as outlined in various security frameworks and standards.