CVE-2018-20058 in Evernote
Summary
by MITRE
In Evernote before 7.6 on macOS, there is a local file path traversal issue in attachment previewing, aka MACOSNOTE-28634.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20058 represents a critical local file path traversal flaw affecting Evernote versions prior to 7.6 on macOS operating systems. This security issue specifically manifests within the attachment previewing functionality of the application, creating a potential vector for unauthorized access to sensitive files on affected systems. The flaw allows malicious actors to manipulate file paths during the preview process, potentially enabling them to access files outside the intended directory structure. Such path traversal vulnerabilities typically arise from inadequate input validation and sanitization within file handling components, particularly when applications fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied file paths before processing them.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of file paths used in the attachment previewing feature. When Evernote processes attachments for preview, it likely constructs file paths based on user input without proper sanitization checks. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject directory traversal sequences such as "../" or similar patterns that can navigate outside the intended file scope. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where file system access controls are bypassed through crafted input manipulation. According to CWE classification, this represents a variant of CWE-22 Path Traversal vulnerability, specifically affecting the macOS platform within the Evernote application context. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter for macOS environments, as it enables potential exploitation through file system manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-20058 extends beyond simple file access violations, as it can potentially allow attackers to access sensitive user data including personal notes, attachments, and potentially system files. On macOS systems, this vulnerability could expose users to unauthorized access to their Evernote data repositories, which often contain confidential information such as financial records, personal correspondence, and business documents. The localized nature of the vulnerability means that exploitation requires physical access to the target system or successful social engineering to gain initial access. However, once exploited, the impact can be significant as attackers can potentially access all files within the Evernote application's data directory structure. This vulnerability particularly affects users who store sensitive information in Evernote and may be exploited in targeted attacks against specific individuals or organizations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20058 primarily focus on updating to Evernote version 7.6 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address the path traversal vulnerability. System administrators should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all affected macOS systems receive the security update. Additional protective measures include implementing strict file system permissions for Evernote data directories, monitoring for unusual file access patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of note-taking applications. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized software that might exploit similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in file handling operations and demonstrates how seemingly benign features like attachment previews can become attack vectors when not properly secured. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to file system access anomalies and ensure that application security testing includes comprehensive path traversal validation for all file handling components.