CVE-2017-16139 in jikes
Summary
by MITRE
jikes is a file server. jikes is vulnerable to a directory traversal issue, giving an attacker access to the filesystem by placing "../" in the url. Accessible files are restricted to files with .htm and .js extensions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2020
The CVE-2017-16139 vulnerability affects jikes, a file server implementation that suffers from a directory traversal flaw in its URL handling mechanism. This security weakness allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the server's filesystem by manipulating URL parameters with ../ sequences. The vulnerability specifically impacts how the server processes file paths, failing to properly sanitize or validate input that contains directory navigation sequences. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing directory traversal sequences, the server processes these requests without adequate restrictions, potentially exposing sensitive system files to unauthorized access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability falls under the category of path traversal attacks, which are classified as CWE-22 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. This weakness represents a fundamental flaw in input validation where applications fail to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input that contains path traversal sequences. The vulnerability creates a direct pathway for attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve files from locations outside the intended directory structure. The impact is particularly concerning because while the attack vector is limited to files with .htm and .js extensions, these file types often contain sensitive information such as configuration data, application logic, or user-related content that could be exploited for further attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly weakens the security posture of systems running jikes file server. The restricted file access to .htm and .js extensions suggests that attackers may gain access to web application source code, configuration files, or other sensitive data that could reveal implementation details and potentially lead to more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) as attackers can systematically explore the filesystem to identify valuable targets. This weakness also enables potential privilege escalation scenarios where attackers might access files that contain database credentials, application secrets, or other sensitive data that could compromise the entire system.
Organizations utilizing jikes file server should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all URL parameters to prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed. The server configuration should enforce strict file extension filtering and implement proper path normalization techniques to ensure that all file access requests are properly validated against the intended directory structure. Additionally, access controls should be implemented to restrict file access to only authorized users and processes, with logging mechanisms in place to detect and alert on suspicious file access patterns. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly when handling user-supplied data in web applications and file servers. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system infrastructure.