CVE-2017-20145 in Responsive Filemanger
Summary
by MITRE • 07/25/2022
A vulnerability was found in Tecrail Responsive Filemanger up to 9.10.x and classified as critical. The manipulation leads to path traversal. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 9.11.0 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20145 represents a critical path traversal flaw within Tecrail Responsive Filemanager versions 9.10.x and earlier. This security weakness resides in the file management system's improper handling of user-supplied input, specifically within the file operations functionality that processes directory navigation requests. The flaw allows an attacker to manipulate file paths through crafted input parameters, potentially enabling unauthorized access to files and directories outside the intended application scope.
Path traversal vulnerabilities fall under the common weakness enumeration CWE-22, which describes the condition where an application fails to properly sanitize user input that is used to construct file paths. The vulnerability manifests when the application does not adequately validate or sanitize file path parameters, allowing attackers to use sequences such as "../" or similar directory traversal techniques to navigate beyond the designated file system boundaries. This particular implementation flaw exists in the file manager's core file handling mechanisms, where user-provided paths are directly processed without sufficient validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote exploitation without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access sensitive files, including configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and potentially system files that should remain restricted. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that malicious actors can target the affected system from anywhere on the internet, without requiring physical access or prior system compromise. The disclosure of public exploit code further amplifies the risk, as it provides readily available tools for attackers to leverage this weakness.
The exploitation of CVE-2017-20145 follows the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries enumerate file system structures to identify sensitive information. This vulnerability also aligns with T1566 - Phishing with Malicious Attachments, as attackers could potentially use the path traversal to access and deliver malicious files to unsuspecting users. The attack surface extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential system compromise through access to application configuration files, database connection details, and other sensitive artifacts that could facilitate further attacks.
The recommended remediation involves upgrading to version 9.11.0 or later, which incorporates proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent path traversal attacks. This upgrade addresses the core issue by implementing proper path normalization and validation routines that ensure file operations remain within the intended directory boundaries. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly in file management systems where improper handling of user input can lead to severe privilege escalation and information disclosure scenarios.