CVE-2019-12971 in EBK Ethernet-Buskoppler Pro
Summary
by MITRE
BKS EBK Ethernet-Buskoppler Pro before 3.01 allows Unrestricted Upload of a File with a Dangerous Type.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-12971 affects BKS EBK Ethernet-Buskoppler Pro software versions prior to 3.01, presenting a critical security flaw that enables unauthorized file uploads with potentially malicious content. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and inadequate file type restrictions within the application's upload functionality, creating an attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors to compromise the system's integrity. The flaw specifically allows attackers to upload files with dangerous extensions that could execute arbitrary code when processed by the application.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-434, which describes "Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type," a well-documented weakness in software applications where user-supplied files are accepted without proper validation of their content or file type. The absence of proper file extension checks, MIME type validation, and content inspection mechanisms creates a pathway for attackers to bypass security controls and potentially execute malicious payloads on the target system. The vulnerability exists in the application's file handling logic where it fails to properly sanitize and validate uploaded files before storing or processing them.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to the system, execute arbitrary code, and potentially escalate privileges within the network environment. An attacker could upload web shells, malicious scripts, or other harmful file types that would be executed by the application when accessed or processed. This could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor access. The vulnerability affects the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of the system, as it allows for unauthorized modifications to the application's behavior and potential data manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected software to version 3.01 or later, which would contain proper file validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive file upload restrictions that validate file extensions against a whitelist of approved types, perform MIME type checking, and conduct content analysis to detect potentially malicious file content. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting upload functionality to only authorized users and implementing proper access controls. Network segmentation and monitoring should be employed to detect suspicious file upload activities, while regular security audits should verify that file upload mechanisms are properly configured and validated according to security best practices and industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.