CVE-2017-16208 in dmmcquay.lab6
Summary
by MITRE
dmmcquay.lab6 is a REST server. dmmcquay.lab6 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-2017-16208 affects dmmcquay.lab6, a REST server implementation that suffers from a critical directory traversal flaw. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation within the application's URL parsing mechanism, allowing malicious actors to manipulate file paths through crafted URL parameters containing "../" sequences. The vulnerability resides in the server's failure to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before processing file system operations, creating an exploitable condition that directly compromises the application's file system access controls.
This directory traversal vulnerability represents a classic security flaw that maps to CWE-22, known as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')". The issue allows attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and access files or directories that should remain protected. The exploitation occurs when the application processes URLs containing relative path references without proper validation, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive system files, configuration data, or other resources that should be restricted to authorized users only. The attack vector specifically targets the REST server's handling of file system operations through URL parameters, making it particularly dangerous in web applications where file access is commonly required.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the ability to read arbitrary files from the server's file system. This could potentially lead to the exposure of sensitive configuration files, database credentials, application source code, or other confidential data. The implications are severe because the vulnerability allows for complete system compromise through unauthorized file access, potentially enabling further attacks such as privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or system takeover. The REST server architecture makes this particularly concerning as it often handles sensitive operations and data exchanges, amplifying the potential damage from a single directory traversal exploit.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16208 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the REST server's URL processing pipeline. The most effective approach involves implementing proper path validation that rejects or removes any "../" sequences from user-supplied URLs before file system operations are performed. Additionally, the application should employ a whitelist-based approach to file access, ensuring that only explicitly allowed paths can be accessed through the REST API. Organizations should also consider implementing proper access controls, using secure coding practices such as those recommended in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices, and conducting regular security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities. The implementation of proper file system access controls and input validation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which focuses on discovering files and directories, and helps prevent unauthorized access to system resources through path traversal attacks.