CVE-2018-1200 in Apps Manager for PCF
Summary
by MITRE
Apps Manager for PCF (Pivotal Application Service 1.11.x before 1.11.26, 1.12.x before 1.12.14, and 2.0.x before 2.0.5) allows unprivileged remote file read in its container via specially-crafted links.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1200 affects Pivotal Application Service (PAS) versions 1.11.x prior to 1.11.26, 1.12.x prior to 1.12.14, and 2.0.x prior to 2.0.5, specifically within the Apps Manager component. This issue represents a significant security flaw that enables unprivileged remote attackers to read arbitrary files within the container environment through carefully constructed links. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the Apps Manager interface, which fails to properly sanitize user-provided URLs or paths before processing them within the containerized application environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an unprivileged user crafts malicious URLs that target the Apps Manager's file reading functionality. These crafted links can potentially traverse directory structures and access sensitive files that should normally be restricted to authorized users or system processes. The flaw exists in the way the system handles file path resolution and access controls, allowing attackers to bypass normal security boundaries and read files that contain configuration data, credentials, or other sensitive information. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category for Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as Path Traversal or Directory Traversal attacks. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in cloud environments where containerized applications may contain sensitive data that should remain isolated from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1200 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can lead to privilege escalation and further compromise of the entire platform. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially access application configuration files, database connection strings, API keys, and other sensitive artifacts that could enable them to move laterally within the platform or extract valuable data. The vulnerability affects the core management interface of Pivotal Application Service, which means that even users with minimal privileges could gain access to information that should be restricted to administrators or platform operators. This type of attack vector aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 - File and Directory Discovery tactic, where adversaries seek to identify files and directories on compromised systems.
Organizations using affected versions of PAS should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the patched versions 1.11.26, 1.12.14, and 2.0.5 respectively. Additionally, network-level restrictions should be implemented to limit access to the Apps Manager interface to only trusted administrative users. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms in web applications, particularly those running in containerized environments where isolation between processes and containers is critical for security. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of file access permissions and implement monitoring for unusual file access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the need for comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and code reviews to identify similar path traversal issues in other components of cloud platforms and containerized applications.