CVE-2017-2090 in CubeCart
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in CubeCart versions prior to 6.1.4 allows remote authenticated attackers to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2090 represents a directory traversal flaw within CubeCart e-commerce software versions prior to 6.1.4, creating a significant security risk for affected systems. This directory traversal vulnerability enables remote authenticated attackers to access arbitrary files on the server through unspecified vectors, potentially exposing sensitive data and system information. The flaw resides in how the application processes file paths, allowing attackers to manipulate input parameters to navigate beyond the intended directory structure and access files outside the web root or designated access boundaries.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. The attack vector requires an authenticated user account, which slightly reduces the initial attack surface but still presents a critical risk since legitimate users with access can exploit this flaw to escalate their privileges and access unauthorized data. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics aligned with ATT&CK technique T1083, where adversaries attempt to gather information about the file system to identify potential targets for further exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers can potentially access configuration files containing database credentials, application secrets, and other sensitive information that could facilitate further compromise of the system. In a typical attack scenario, an authenticated attacker would manipulate file path parameters in the application's file handling functions to traverse directories and read files such as database configuration files, log files, or even system files that contain critical information. The implications are particularly severe for e-commerce environments where CubeCart stores sensitive customer data, payment information, and business-critical configuration details.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the official patch released in CubeCart version 6.1.4, which addresses the directory traversal issue by implementing proper input validation and sanitization of file path parameters. Additional mitigations should include implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforcing strict access controls for user accounts, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious path traversal attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns and unauthorized attempts to read system files. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and ensure comprehensive protection against similar directory traversal vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in application design, as these measures would have prevented the exploitation of this flaw regardless of the specific attack vector used.