CVE-2017-17876 in Biometric Shift Employee Management System
Summary
by MITRE
Biometric Shift Employee Management System 3.0 allows remote attackers to bypass intended file-read restrictions via a user=download request with a pathname in the path parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17876 affects the Biometric Shift Employee Management System version 3.0, presenting a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to circumvent intended file access controls. This system is designed to manage employee biometric data and shift schedules, making it a potentially valuable target for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to sensitive personnel information. The vulnerability manifests through a specific request parameter structure that allows attackers to manipulate file access paths, effectively bypassing the system's built-in security mechanisms that should restrict file reading operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a user=download request where the attacker can inject arbitrary pathnames into the path parameter of the request. This flaw represents a classic case of improper input validation and inadequate access control implementation, allowing an attacker to traverse the file system and access files that should remain restricted. The vulnerability essentially enables path traversal attacks where malicious users can navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and retrieve unauthorized files from the server's file system. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can potentially expose sensitive employee data including personal identification information, biometric records, shift schedules, and other confidential organizational data. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to extract database files, configuration settings, or application source code that might contain additional security weaknesses or sensitive credentials. The remote nature of the attack means that an attacker does not require physical access to the system or local network privileges, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise if sensitive files containing database credentials or application secrets are accessible.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file access operations. The system should enforce strict path validation that prevents traversal beyond designated directories and implement robust access control mechanisms that verify user permissions before allowing file operations. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious path traversal patterns, while also ensuring that the application runs with minimal required privileges and that sensitive files are properly secured with appropriate access controls. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure, as this type of flaw is commonly found in legacy systems that have not been properly updated or secured according to modern security standards. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper security controls during application development and highlights the need for continuous security monitoring and updating of legacy systems to prevent exploitation by threat actors.