CVE-2017-20152 in imageserve
Summary
by MITRE • 12/30/2022
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in aerouk imageserve. Affected is an unknown function of the file public/viewer.php of the component File Handler. The manipulation of the argument filelocation leads to path traversal. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The name of the patch is bd23c784f0e5cb12f66d15c100248449f87d72e2. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-217056.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20152 represents a critical path traversal flaw within the aerouk imageserve application, specifically affecting the file handler component. This security weakness resides in the public/viewer.php file where an unvalidated filelocation parameter is processed, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to navigate through the file system beyond the intended directory boundaries. The vulnerability's classification as problematic stems from its ability to enable unauthorized access to sensitive files and directories that should remain protected within the application's intended scope.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation and sanitization within the File Handler component. When the filelocation argument is manipulated by an attacker, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before using it in file system operations. This allows for directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to be injected into the parameter, enabling access to files outside the designated web root or application directories. The flaw essentially permits attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially retrieve arbitrary files from the server's file system.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a significant risk as it can be exploited remotely without requiring any authentication or privileged access. The public disclosure of the exploit means that malicious actors can readily leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored on the affected server. The attack surface extends beyond simple file access to include potential information disclosure, system reconnaissance, and in severe cases, could lead to further exploitation opportunities such as command execution or privilege escalation depending on the server configuration and file permissions. The vulnerability's remote exploitability makes it particularly dangerous as it can be targeted from any location with internet access.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the official patch identified by the patch identifier bd23c784f0e5cb12f66d15c100248449f87d72e2, which addresses the input validation weakness in the file handler component. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation at multiple layers, proper file access controls, and regular security auditing of web applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery, as it enables adversaries to enumerate and access files that should remain protected. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and restricting file access permissions to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.