CVE-2017-16146 in mockserve
Summary
by MITRE
mockserve is a file server. mockserve 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-2017-16146 affects mockserve, a file server application that processes HTTP requests to serve files from a local filesystem. This directory traversal flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the server's filesystem through manipulation of URL parameters. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's path handling logic, enabling attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory structure through the exploitation of relative path references.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of URL paths using the "../" sequence which is a standard technique for directory traversal attacks. When an attacker crafts a request containing these sequences in the URL, the mockserve application fails to properly validate or sanitize the input, allowing the traversal to occur. This flaw directly maps to CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through HTTP requests without requiring any special privileges or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with unrestricted access to the filesystem where mockserve is operating. An attacker could potentially access sensitive configuration files, user data, system files, or other confidential information stored on the server. This access could lead to data breaches, system compromise, or further exploitation opportunities such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within a network. The vulnerability affects any system running mockserve where the application has access to sensitive files or directories, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where the server might have elevated privileges or access to critical data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application. The most effective approach involves implementing strict path validation that prevents the use of directory traversal sequences in URL parameters. This can be achieved through the implementation of allow-list validation that only permits specific, safe file paths or by using secure file access libraries that automatically handle path validation. Additionally, the application should be configured to run with minimal required privileges and should not have access to sensitive directories beyond what is necessary for its operation. Security controls such as web application firewalls and input validation rules should be implemented to prevent malicious requests containing traversal sequences from reaching the application. The remediation process should also include regular security testing and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and ensure that proper security practices are maintained throughout the software development lifecycle. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in application design and deployment.