CVE-2017-16594 in Enterprise Manager
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to create arbitrary files on vulnerable installations of NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager 7.2.730 build 1034. Although authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability, the existing authentication mechanism can be bypassed. The specific flaw exists within the org.apache.jsp.u.jsp.db.save_005fimage_jsp servlet, which listens on TCP port 8081 by default. When parsing the id parameter, the process does not properly validate user-supplied data, which can allow for the upload of files. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of Administrator. Was ZDI-CAN-5117.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2021
This vulnerability in NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager 7.2.730 build 1034 represents a critical path traversal and arbitrary file creation flaw that demonstrates poor input validation practices in web application components. The vulnerability exists within the org.apache.jsp.u.jsp.db.save_005fimage_jsp servlet which operates on the default TCP port 8081, making it accessible to remote attackers who can potentially bypass existing authentication mechanisms. The core technical issue stems from improper validation of the id parameter during file upload processing, allowing attackers to manipulate the file creation process and write arbitrary files to the target system.
The exploitation chain begins with bypassing authentication, which indicates a weakness in the application's access control implementation. Once authenticated or when authentication is bypassed, the attacker can leverage the vulnerable servlet to upload malicious files by manipulating the id parameter. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-73 Path Traversal in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, where insufficient validation of user-supplied input allows for unauthorized file system access. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution risk is particularly concerning given that successful exploitation can occur under the Administrator context, providing full system compromise capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file creation, as it provides attackers with the ability to execute code with elevated privileges. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager serves as a critical infrastructure component. The default listening port of 8081 and the potential for authentication bypass make this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors who may discover and exploit it without requiring specialized knowledge of the system. The vulnerability's presence in a database management servlet suggests that attackers could potentially manipulate database image storage areas, leading to data corruption, information disclosure, or complete system takeover.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected NetGain Systems Enterprise Manager version, implementing network segmentation to restrict access to port 8081, and enhancing authentication controls to prevent bypass scenarios. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious parameter values, particularly those that could enable path traversal attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing proper input validation and output encoding as recommended in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically addressing techniques related to command injection and privilege escalation. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications that may be vulnerable to similar exploitation patterns.