CVE-2018-7467 in Axxon Next
Summary
by MITRE
AxxonSoft Axxon Next has Directory Traversal via an initial /css//..%2f substring in a URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7467 affects AxxonSoft Axxon Next, a video management and surveillance system widely used in security applications. This directory traversal flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's URI handling mechanism that allows attackers to access files and directories outside the intended web root. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes URIs containing the sequence /css//..%2f which represents a crafted path traversal attack. The %2f encoding represents the forward slash character, enabling attackers to bypass directory restrictions and navigate to arbitrary file locations on the server filesystem. This issue falls under the CWE-22 category of Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as Path Traversal, which is classified as a high-severity vulnerability in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of Uniform Resource Identifiers in the web application's interface. When Axxon Next processes incoming requests containing the malicious path traversal sequence, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the URI components before accessing the filesystem. The application's web server component does not adequately enforce directory boundaries, allowing the attacker to traverse up the directory tree using the ..%2f sequence and access sensitive files such as configuration files, database files, or system binaries. This flaw is particularly dangerous in surveillance environments where the application may have access to sensitive operational data, user credentials, or system configuration information that could be exploited for further compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical system resources within the surveillance infrastructure. In a production environment, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to extract sensitive configuration data, access user authentication credentials, or even execute arbitrary code if the application has sufficient privileges to read system files. The attack vector is particularly concerning for security professionals as it requires minimal sophistication to exploit and can be automated through standard web scanning tools. The vulnerability affects the web interface of Axxon Next, making it accessible to remote attackers without requiring physical access to the system or knowledge of internal network topology.
Organizations using AxxonSoft Axxon Next should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches or updates that address this directory traversal vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the web interface to untrusted networks. Input validation and sanitization measures should be enhanced to prevent malicious URI sequences from being processed by the application. Additionally, security monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute commands on the underlying system. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and security scanning tools to detect and block similar path traversal attempts in other applications within their infrastructure.