CVE-2018-10869 in redhat-certification
Summary
by MITRE
redhat-certification does not properly restrict files that can be download through the /download page. A remote attacker may download any file accessible by the user running httpd.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10869 resides within the redhat-certification application's file download functionality, specifically affecting the /download page implementation. This represents a critical access control flaw that fundamentally undermines the security boundaries of the web application. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and path traversal restrictions within the file serving mechanism, allowing unauthorized access to system resources that should remain protected. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters that determine which files can be retrieved through the download endpoint, creating a direct pathway for malicious actors to bypass normal access controls.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability constitutes a classic path traversal or directory traversal attack vector where the application does not adequately validate or sanitize file paths submitted by users. The flaw allows remote attackers to construct malicious requests that can traverse the filesystem hierarchy and access files that are normally restricted to authorized users or system processes. When the httpd service runs with elevated privileges or has access to sensitive system files, the impact becomes exponentially more severe as attackers can potentially access configuration files, log data, source code repositories, or other sensitive information that should remain isolated from external access. This vulnerability 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 weakness creates an opportunity for attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to system resources that should be protected by standard file system permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-10869 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to potentially access critical system components that could lead to further compromise of the affected system. When the httpd process runs under a user account with elevated privileges or has access to sensitive directories, attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract system configuration files, database credentials, application source code, or other sensitive artifacts that could facilitate additional attacks. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the application is exposed to untrusted networks. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly and systematically, potentially leading to complete system compromise or data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10869 should focus on implementing robust input validation and access control measures within the file download functionality. The primary remediation involves implementing strict path validation that ensures all file paths are properly sanitized and restricted to predefined directories. Organizations should implement a whitelist approach for file access, where only explicitly allowed files or directories can be accessed through the download mechanism. Additionally, the httpd service should be configured to run with minimal necessary privileges, reducing the potential impact if the vulnerability is exploited. Security controls should include implementing proper authentication and authorization checks before allowing file downloads, ensuring that the application validates user permissions against the requested file access. The mitigation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as proper access controls and privilege management would prevent unauthorized file access. Organizations should also implement monitoring and logging of download activities to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish proper file access controls that align with the principle of least privilege. The implementation of these controls would significantly reduce the attack surface and prevent the exploitation of this directory traversal vulnerability.