CVE-2018-11789 in heron-ui
Summary
by MITRE
When accessing the heron-ui webpage, people can modify the file paths outside of the current container to access any file on the host. Example woule be modifying the parameter path= to go to the directory you would like to view. i.e. ..%2F..%2F..%2F..%2F..%2F..%2Fetc%2Fpasswd.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw in the heron-ui web application that allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the host system through improper input validation. The issue stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied path parameters when rendering file contents within the web interface, creating an unrestricted file access condition that can be exploited to bypass normal file system access controls. The vulnerability specifically affects the heron-ui component of the apache heron distributed stream processing system, where the web interface fails to properly validate or sanitize file path parameters before using them to construct file system requests.
The technical exploitation occurs through manipulation of URL parameters, particularly the path parameter, where attackers can use directory traversal sequences such as ..%2F..%2F..%2F..%2F..%2F..%2Fetc%2Fpasswd to navigate outside the intended directory boundaries and access sensitive host files. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, as it enables unauthorized file system enumeration and access. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to perform a path traversal attack by crafting malicious URL parameters that exploit the lack of proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the heron-ui application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with the ability to read arbitrary files from the host system, potentially exposing sensitive information such as configuration files, credentials, system files, and other confidential data stored on the server. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into the system's configuration, access database credentials, retrieve application source code, or obtain other sensitive information that could be used for further exploitation. The vulnerability affects the availability and confidentiality of the system by allowing unauthorized access to files that should remain protected within the containerized environment, potentially leading to complete system compromise if sensitive configuration files or credentials are exposed.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file system operations. The application should enforce strict path validation to ensure that file paths remain within the intended directory boundaries and reject any requests containing directory traversal sequences. Organizations should implement proper access controls and privilege separation to limit the impact of potential exploitation, while also applying the latest security patches from the apache heron project. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the distributed system. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the critical security considerations when developing user-facing interfaces that interact with file systems.