CVE-2017-2117 in CubeCart
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in CubeCart versions prior to 6.1.5 allows attacker with administrator rights to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2117 represents a directory traversal flaw within CubeCart e-commerce platform versions earlier than 6.1.5. This security weakness specifically targets the file handling mechanisms of the application, creating an avenue for unauthorized file access that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only administrator-level privileges to exploit, meaning that an attacker who has already gained administrative access to a CubeCart system can leverage this flaw to read arbitrary files from the server filesystem. Directory traversal vulnerabilities of this nature typically arise from insufficient input validation and improper sanitization of user-supplied data that is used in file system operations. The flaw enables attackers to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and access sensitive files that should normally be restricted, potentially exposing critical system information, configuration files, database credentials, or application source code. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, 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 CVE-2017-2117 extends beyond simple file reading capabilities, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within a compromised environment. An attacker with administrator rights who exploits this vulnerability can potentially access not only configuration files containing database connection strings and encryption keys but also application source code that might reveal additional security weaknesses or business logic flaws. The vulnerability's exploitation vectors remain unspecified in the description, which suggests that multiple pathways within the application could be leveraged to achieve the directory traversal effect. This ambiguity in the attack surface makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various components of the application, including file upload features, content management systems, or administrative interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing for Information), as it enables attackers to systematically explore the file system and discover sensitive information. The presence of such a flaw in a widely used e-commerce platform like CubeCart means that organizations using vulnerable versions are at risk of data breaches, intellectual property theft, and potential system compromise.
Organizations affected by CVE-2017-2117 should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the official patch released by CubeCart for version 6.1.5 and subsequent releases. The fix typically involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures for all file system operations, ensuring that user-supplied data cannot be used to manipulate directory paths. Security measures should include the enforcement of strict path validation, the implementation of whitelist-based file access controls, and the adoption of secure coding practices that prevent directory traversal attacks. System administrators should also conduct thorough security assessments of their CubeCart installations to identify any other potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited in conjunction with this flaw. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation, restricting administrative access to only necessary personnel, and maintaining comprehensive monitoring and logging of file system access patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping e-commerce platforms updated with the latest security patches and following secure development practices to prevent attackers from exploiting known weaknesses in application code. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can help identify and block attempts to exploit directory traversal vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that applications remain resilient against such attacks and that all known vulnerabilities are properly addressed through timely patch management processes.