CVE-2017-5168 in Smart Security Manager
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Hanwha Techwin Smart Security Manager Versions 1.5 and prior. Multiple Path Traversal vulnerabilities have been identified. The flaws exist within the ActiveMQ Broker service that is installed as part of the product. By issuing specific HTTP requests, if a user visits a malicious page, an attacker can gain access to arbitrary files on the server. Smart Security Manager Versions 1.4 and prior to 1.31 are affected by these vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities can allow for remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2020
The CVE-2017-5168 vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw within the Hanwha Techwin Smart Security Manager product line, specifically affecting versions 1.5 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the ActiveMQ Broker service component that is integrated into the security management solution. The flaw exists at the application layer where user-supplied input is not adequately sanitized before being processed by the file system operations. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly validate file paths in HTTP requests, allowing attackers to manipulate directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to access files outside the intended directory structure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the ActiveMQ messaging system's exposure through the Smart Security Manager interface, creating an attack surface where malicious HTTP requests can be crafted to exploit the path traversal mechanism. When an attacker crafts a request containing directory traversal sequences and directs a victim to visit a malicious webpage, the system processes these requests without proper validation, leading to unauthorized file access. This vulnerability operates at the application level and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for networked security systems. The flaw directly maps to CWE-22, which describes 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 file access to include potential remote code execution capabilities, which significantly amplifies the threat level. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can access sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially gain the ability to execute arbitrary code on the affected server. This could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of security operations. The vulnerability affects not only the local file system but also exposes the underlying security infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls and access protected resources. The impact is particularly severe for security equipment, as it undermines the very purpose of the system being deployed for protection.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected Smart Security Manager versions, with priority given to upgrading to versions 1.31 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the ActiveMQ service ports and limit exposure to untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing input validation controls at the application level, such as whitelisting acceptable file paths and implementing proper path normalization, can help prevent exploitation attempts. The solution should include monitoring for suspicious HTTP requests and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious path traversal attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1059 for remote code execution and T1083 for file and directory discovery, making it a critical target for defensive security measures and incident response planning.