CVE-2018-9998 in App Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Open-Xchange OX App Suite before 7.6.3-rev37, 7.8.x before 7.8.2-rev40, 7.8.3 before 7.8.3-rev48, and 7.8.4 before 7.8.4-rev28 include folder names in API error responses, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via the folder parameter in an "all" action to api/tasks.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9998 affects Open-Xchange OX App Suite versions prior to specific patch releases, creating a sensitive data exposure risk through improper error handling in the application programming interface. This issue manifests when the system processes requests containing folder parameters within the "all" action of the tasks api endpoint, where folder names are inadvertently included in error responses rather than being properly sanitized or omitted from the output. The flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers without authentication, potentially revealing organizational folder structures and sensitive directory information through crafted api requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error response handling within the application's api layer. When processing the "all" action with folder parameters, the system fails to properly sanitize or filter folder names before including them in error messages, which are then returned to the requesting client. This behavior violates secure coding practices and demonstrates poor separation of concerns between application logic and error reporting mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, Information Exposure, which specifically addresses situations where system information is disclosed in error messages or responses that should remain generic and non-informative.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data about the target organization's directory structure and potentially sensitive folder naming conventions. Attackers can leverage this information to plan more sophisticated attacks, such as targeted phishing campaigns, social engineering attempts, or to identify potential high-value targets within the organizational hierarchy. The exposure of folder names may reveal sensitive information about business processes, departmental structures, or confidential project names, which could be used to craft more convincing attacks against specific individuals or teams. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on structured folder naming conventions for security or operational purposes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-9998 require immediate patching of affected Open-Xchange OX App Suite installations to the recommended versions that contain proper error handling and input sanitization. Organizations should also implement network-level monitoring to detect unusual api request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, particularly those involving folder parameter manipulation. The solution involves modifying the application's error handling routines to ensure that folder names or any potentially sensitive information is never included in error responses, regardless of the specific api action being performed. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms around the api endpoints can provide defense-in-depth protection against unauthorized access attempts, while regular security assessments of api interfaces can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, File and Directory Discovery, as it provides adversaries with information about the target system's file structure and organization.