CVE-2017-16186 in 360class.jansenhm
Summary
by MITRE
360class.jansenhm is a static file server. 360class.jansenhm 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-2017-16186 affects 360class.jansenhm, a static file server implementation that suffers from a critical directory traversal flaw. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the file serving mechanism, allowing remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the underlying filesystem through carefully crafted URL requests. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied path components, enabling attackers to navigate beyond the intended document root directory.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the classic directory traversal pattern where malicious users can manipulate URL parameters by injecting sequences such as "../" to move up directory levels. This allows attackers to access files that should remain restricted, potentially including system configuration files, application source code, user data, and other sensitive information stored outside the designated web root. The vulnerability represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's path resolution logic.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant security risks to organizations relying on 360class.jansenhm for static file serving. Attackers can potentially extract sensitive data, gain insights into the application architecture, and in some cases escalate privileges or execute further attacks. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its remote exploitability, meaning that an attacker does not require local access or authentication to exploit the flaw. This makes it particularly dangerous in environments where such static file servers are exposed to untrusted networks or internet-facing services.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as directory traversal or path traversal attacks. According to MITRE's ATT&CK framework, this represents a technique under T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries attempt to enumerate and access files and directories that may contain sensitive information. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious requests that bypass access controls and gain unauthorized access to system resources. Organizations should consider implementing proper input validation, canonicalizing file paths, and restricting access to sensitive system components to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied path components before processing. The application should enforce strict path resolution rules that prevent traversal beyond the intended directory boundaries. Additionally, organizations should deploy proper access controls, implement least privilege principles, and regularly audit file access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense against such attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar flaws in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure.