CVE-2018-20332 in OpenWebif Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
An issue has been discovered in the OpenWebif plugin through 1.2.4 for Enigma2 based devices. Reading of arbitrary files is possible with /file?action=download&file= followed by a full pathname, and listing of arbitrary directories is possible with /file?action=download&dir= followed by a full pathname. This is related to plugin/controllers/file.py in the e2openplugin-OpenWebif project.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20332 represents a critical path traversal flaw within the OpenWebif plugin version 1.2.4 and earlier, which operates on Enigma2 based digital television receivers. This issue resides in the file controller component of the e2openplugin-OpenWebif project, specifically within the plugin/controllers/file.py module. The flaw enables unauthorized access to sensitive system resources through manipulated HTTP requests that exploit improper input validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to bypass normal access controls by crafting malicious requests to the web interface. When an attacker sends a request with the action parameter set to download and specifies a file path using the file parameter, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the input, enabling arbitrary file reading capabilities. Similarly, the dir parameter can be exploited to enumerate directory contents without proper authorization. This represents a classic path traversal vulnerability that falls under CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as directory traversal or path traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for affected Enigma2 devices, which are commonly used in digital satellite receivers and set-top boxes. Attackers can potentially access sensitive system files including configuration data, authentication credentials, and other confidential information stored on the device. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the system as it allows unauthorized data exfiltration and directory enumeration, which can be used as a reconnaissance step for further exploitation. This flaw particularly impacts devices that are connected to networks, as the web interface is accessible over HTTP, making it vulnerable to remote exploitation.
Organizations and device administrators should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of the OpenWebif plugin, applying firewall rules to restrict access to the web interface, and implementing proper input validation measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control mechanisms and input sanitization in web applications, particularly those running on embedded systems with limited security features. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which describes directory and file permissions enumeration, and highlights the need for secure coding practices that prevent improper access to system resources. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file access patterns and directory listing requests that may indicate exploitation attempts.