CVE-2018-12632 in Redatam7
Summary
by MITRE
Redatam7 (formerly Redatam WebServer) allows remote attackers to discover the installation path via an invalid LFN parameter to the /redbin/rpwebutilities.exe/text URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2020
CVE-2018-12632 represents a path disclosure vulnerability affecting Redatam7, formerly known as Redatam WebServer, which is a web application server used primarily in government and enterprise environments for data processing and reporting. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of file system paths within the application's web interface, specifically when processing invalid Long File Name (LFN) parameters. The flaw exists in the rpwebutilities.exe component which is accessible through the /redbin/rpwebutilities.exe/text URI endpoint, making it exploitable by remote attackers without authentication requirements. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-200, which addresses information exposure through improper error handling, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 for exploitation of information disclosure vulnerabilities. The path disclosure occurs because the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the LFN parameter, allowing malicious input to reveal sensitive installation paths that could be used for further exploitation attempts. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Redatam7 is deployed for handling sensitive government data, as the disclosed paths may contain information about the underlying operating system structure, file locations, and potentially even database connection strings or configuration details. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as attackers can use the revealed path information to craft more sophisticated attacks, including directory traversal attempts or targeted exploitation of other vulnerabilities present in the same system. Organizations using Redatam7 should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, parameter sanitization, and access controls to prevent unauthorized path disclosure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper error handling and input validation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive data, and highlights the need for regular security assessments to identify similar flaws in legacy systems. Additionally, this vulnerability underscores the risks associated with using outdated web server software and emphasizes the critical nature of keeping systems updated with security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. The issue is classified as a medium severity risk but can escalate significantly in environments with restricted access controls or when combined with other vulnerabilities present in the same system infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal effort from attackers, as it only requires sending a malformed LFN parameter to the specific URI endpoint. The response from the vulnerable system reveals the absolute file path of the installation directory, which can be leveraged by threat actors to understand the system architecture and potentially identify other vulnerabilities or access points. This type of information disclosure can be particularly damaging in regulated environments where compliance requirements mandate strict controls over data access and system information exposure. Security professionals should consider implementing web application firewalls to filter out suspicious parameter values and ensure that error messages do not reveal internal system information. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, as the issue could have been easily prevented through proper parameter sanitization and error handling mechanisms. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar path disclosure issues in other components of their web infrastructure and ensure that all systems follow secure development practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future deployments.