CVE-2017-16188 in reecerver
Summary
by MITRE
reecerver is a web server. reecerver is vulnerable to a directory traversal issue, giving an attacker access to the filesystem by placing "../" in the url.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2020
The CVE-2017-16188 vulnerability affects reecerver, a web server implementation that suffers from a critical directory traversal flaw. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the server's URL parsing mechanism, allowing attackers to manipulate file paths through malicious URL parameters. The flaw enables unauthorized access to the underlying filesystem by exploiting the server's inability to properly sanitize directory references that contain relative path traversal sequences such as "../". This represents a fundamental security weakness in the server's file access controls and input sanitization processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious URLs containing directory traversal sequences that bypass normal file access restrictions. When the web server processes these requests, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the input paths, allowing the traversal logic to navigate beyond the intended document root directory. This creates an arbitrary file access condition where attackers can read files outside the server's designated web directories, potentially accessing sensitive system files, configuration data, or other restricted resources. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-16188 is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with extensive access to the underlying system's file structure. Successful exploitation can lead to information disclosure of sensitive files including configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and system binaries. Attackers may also leverage this vulnerability to execute further attacks such as remote code execution by accessing system files or installing malicious software. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the network infrastructure. Organizations running affected versions of reecerver face significant risk of data breaches and system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16188 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web server's URL processing pipeline. System administrators should immediately apply available patches or updates from the vendor to address the directory traversal vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper path validation techniques such as canonicalization of file paths, strict input filtering, and enforcement of secure coding practices can prevent exploitation attempts. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense against directory traversal attacks. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other web applications and services, following the principle of least privilege access controls and secure configuration management practices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web server software, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1083 for discovering files and directories and T1190 for exploit public-facing application vulnerabilities.