CVE-2017-16131 in unicorn-list
Summary
by MITRE
unicorn-list is a web framework. unicorn-list 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 • 02/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16131 affects unicorn-list, a web framework implementation that suffers from a critical directory traversal flaw. This weakness allows malicious actors to access arbitrary files on the underlying filesystem by manipulating URL parameters through the strategic insertion of directory traversal sequences such as "../". The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the framework's file access mechanisms, creating an attack surface where user-controllable input directly influences file system operations.
This directory traversal vulnerability represents a classic security flaw categorized under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The issue enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially retrieve sensitive files, including configuration data, source code, database credentials, or other confidential information stored on the server. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal effort from the attacker and can be executed through simple URL manipulation without requiring authentication or specialized tools.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. An attacker could potentially escalate privileges by accessing system files, configuration databases, or application secrets that are not meant to be publicly accessible. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the web framework by allowing unauthorized file system access, which violates the principle of least privilege and can result in data breaches, system infiltration, and potential denial of service conditions. Organizations relying on unicorn-list for web applications face significant risk of unauthorized access to their infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16131 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization measures at all levels of the application stack. The framework should enforce strict path validation that prevents any traversal sequences from being processed as legitimate file system paths. Security measures should include canonicalizing all file paths, implementing whitelist-based file access controls, and employing proper directory restriction mechanisms. Additionally, the implementation should follow established security practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically addressing the techniques related to path traversal and privilege escalation. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other components of the application architecture.