CVE-2018-25164 in EverSync
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2026
EverSync 0.5 contains an arbitrary file download vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to access sensitive files by requesting them directly from the files directory. Attackers can send GET requests to the files directory to download database files like db.sq3 containing application data and credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2026
The CVE-2018-25164 vulnerability affects EverSync version 0.5 and represents a critical arbitrary file download flaw that exposes sensitive application data to unauthenticated attackers. This vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls within the application's file serving mechanism, allowing malicious actors to directly request and download files from the application's files directory without proper authentication or authorization checks. The flaw specifically targets the application's handling of file requests, creating an attack surface where any user can potentially access confidential information stored in database files such as db.sq3.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to validate or sanitize file paths submitted through GET requests to the files directory endpoint. When attackers send crafted requests to access files within the application's file storage, the system processes these requests without verifying whether the requester has legitimate access rights. This weakness directly violates security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, creating an environment where sensitive data can be extracted without authentication. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows access to database files that likely contain application credentials, user information, and other confidential data that should remain protected.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-25164 is significant and multifaceted, potentially exposing organizations to data breaches, credential theft, and system compromise. Attackers who exploit this vulnerability can gain access to database files containing application credentials, user accounts, and other sensitive information that could be used for further attacks within the network. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers do not need to have any prior access or credentials to the system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous from a threat actor perspective. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-22 - Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is classified as a path traversal or directory traversal vulnerability that allows attackers to access files outside of the intended directory structure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-25164 should focus on implementing proper input validation, access control mechanisms, and secure file handling practices. Organizations should immediately implement authentication checks for all file access requests and validate all file paths to prevent directory traversal attacks. The application should enforce strict access controls that require proper authentication before allowing file downloads, and implement proper path sanitization to ensure that file requests are properly validated. Additionally, the application should be updated to a version that addresses this vulnerability, as the affected EverSync 0.5 version is likely to contain other security weaknesses. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts, as it allows attackers to access sensitive data through legitimate file access mechanisms without requiring additional credentials, and T1566 - Phishing, as the vulnerability can be exploited through simple web requests without requiring complex social engineering.
Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all file access mechanisms within their applications to identify similar vulnerabilities that could allow unauthorized file access. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include multiple layers of security controls to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be performed to identify and remediate similar access control flaws that could potentially compromise application data integrity and confidentiality. Organizations should also implement monitoring and logging for file access requests to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts of this type of vulnerability.