CVE-2018-0703 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Cybozu Office 10.0.0 to 10.8.1 allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary files via HTTP requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0703 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Cybozu Office versions 10.0.0 through 10.8.1. This security weakness enables remote attackers to exploit HTTP request handling mechanisms to execute unauthorized file deletion operations on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper path resolution within the application's file handling components, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate file system access controls.
The technical exploitation of this directory traversal vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted HTTP requests that manipulate file path parameters to navigate beyond intended directories. Attackers can construct malicious requests that target system files or user data by leveraging relative path traversal sequences such as "../" or similar directory navigation patterns. The flaw exists in how the application processes file operations without adequate sanitization of user-supplied input, allowing arbitrary file system manipulation. This vulnerability specifically affects the application's ability to properly validate and restrict file access paths, enabling attackers to delete files outside of designated application directories.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0703 extends beyond simple file deletion to encompass potential system compromise and data loss scenarios. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to remove critical application files, system binaries, or user data, potentially leading to complete system disruption or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access or credentials to perform file deletion operations, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential damage scope. Organizations utilizing affected Cybozu Office versions face risks including data integrity violations, service disruption, and potential escalation to full system compromise.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-22, which specifically addresses directory traversal attacks and improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. The flaw also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, representing command and control through application execution, and T1486, which covers data encryption for ransomware. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, proper path normalization, and access restriction measures. The recommended approach involves upgrading to patched versions of Cybozu Office, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting thorough security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the application landscape.