CVE-2017-9602 in Mysql Free Knowledge Base
Summary
by MITRE
KBVault Mysql Free Knowledge Base application package 0.16a comes with a FileExplorer/Explorer.aspx?id=/Uploads file-management component. An unauthenticated user can access the file upload and deletion functionality. Through this functionality, a user can upload an ASPX script to Uploads/Documents/ to run any arbitrary code.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9602 affects the KBVault Mysql Free Knowledge Base application version 0.16a, specifically targeting its FileExplorer/Explorer.aspx component that handles file management operations. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows unauthenticated attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and directly interact with the file system through the web interface. The vulnerability exists within the application's access control implementation, where the file management functionality does not properly verify user authentication status before permitting file operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's file management component. The FileExplorer/Explorer.aspx?id=/Uploads parameter allows attackers to navigate to the upload directory without requiring authentication credentials. This design flaw creates an unrestricted file upload capability that enables malicious actors to place executable files directly into the server's file system. When an attacker uploads an ASPX script to the Uploads/Documents/ directory, the application's web server processes this file as executable code, creating a remote code execution vulnerability that can be leveraged for complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it provides attackers with persistent execution capabilities on the target system. Once an ASPX payload is successfully uploaded, the attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary commands on the server with the privileges of the web application user. This represents a severe privilege escalation scenario that can lead to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and specifically demonstrates weaknesses in access control enforcement and authentication bypass mechanisms.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is straightforward and can be exploited by any internet-facing system running the vulnerable application version. The lack of authentication requirements makes this particularly dangerous as it requires no prior credentials or privileged access. Attackers can simply navigate to the vulnerable component and upload malicious payloads without any authentication barriers. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploitation of remote services, and T1059, which covers execution through command and scripting interpreters. Organizations with exposed instances of this application face significant risk of compromise, particularly in environments where the application is accessible from untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate access control issues and implement comprehensive security controls. The primary recommendation involves implementing proper authentication and authorization mechanisms for all file management functions, ensuring that only authenticated users with appropriate privileges can access upload and deletion capabilities. Organizations should also implement file type validation and content inspection to prevent the execution of malicious scripts, particularly restricting uploads to safe file types and scanning all uploaded files for malicious content. Additionally, the application should be configured to store uploaded files outside of the web root directory, and proper input validation should be implemented to prevent path traversal attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack, while also implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect suspicious file upload activities.