CVE-2018-17060 in Extensions for ASP.NET MVC
Summary
by MITRE
Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC (all versions) does not whitelist requests, which can allow a remote attacker to access files inside the server's web directory. NOTE: this product has been obsolete since June 2013.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17060 affects Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC, a web development framework that was discontinued in June 2013. This issue represents a classic path traversal vulnerability where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before processing file system requests. The flaw exists in the framework's handling of file operations within the web directory structure, creating an avenue for unauthorized access to sensitive server resources. Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper input validation and whitelisting mechanisms within the Telerik extension components. When the framework processes requests for file operations, it accepts user-supplied parameters without sufficient sanitization, allowing attackers to manipulate paths and navigate to arbitrary directories on the server. This weakness specifically impacts how the system handles file access requests, enabling remote threat actors to potentially read configuration files, source code, or other sensitive data stored within the web application's directory structure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows for arbitrary file access without authentication or authorization checks, making it a significant vector for information disclosure attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could enable attackers to gain insights into the server configuration, application architecture, and potentially access sensitive data stored in the web directory. In environments where the Telerik extensions were still in use, this vulnerability could have facilitated further attacks including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or even remote code execution depending on the server configuration and file permissions. The long-term implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper input validation and the risks associated with continuing to use obsolete software components that no longer receive security updates or patches.
Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader application security posture assessment, particularly when legacy systems or deprecated components remain in production environments. The recommended mitigations include immediate removal of the obsolete Telerik Extensions from all systems, implementation of proper input validation and whitelisting mechanisms for all file access operations, and regular security assessments to identify other deprecated components that may pose similar risks. Additionally, organizations should ensure that their security monitoring systems are configured to detect unusual file access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability could be leveraged in conjunction with other attack vectors to compromise system integrity and confidentiality. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which focuses on discovering files and directories, and demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices even for legacy systems.