CVE-2019-15520 in Quark
Summary
by MITRE
comelz Quark before 2019-03-26 allows directory traversal to locations outside of the project directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15520 affects comelz Quark versions prior to 2019-03-26 and represents a critical directory traversal flaw that enables attackers to access files and directories outside the intended project boundaries. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and path manipulation within the application's file handling mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to exploit weak sanitization routines that fail to properly restrict file system access. The flaw specifically enables unauthorized access to sensitive system resources that should remain isolated within the designated project directory structure.
This directory traversal vulnerability operates at the core of the application's file system interaction model where user-supplied input is directly incorporated into file path resolution without proper sanitization or validation. The technical implementation likely involves insufficient filtering of special characters such as "../" sequences that would normally be rejected by proper path validation routines. Attackers can leverage this weakness to navigate the file system hierarchy and potentially access configuration files, source code, system binaries, or other sensitive resources that reside outside the intended application scope. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it provides attackers with the potential to escalate privileges and gain deeper system insights. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially access database credentials, application configuration files containing sensitive information, or even system-level files that could be used for further exploitation. This flaw creates a significant attack surface that could enable compromise of the entire application environment, potentially leading to full system infiltration. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in environments where the application runs with elevated privileges or where sensitive data is stored within the application's file hierarchy.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-15520 should focus on implementing robust input validation and path sanitization measures that prevent malicious path sequences from being processed. The recommended approach involves implementing strict whitelisting of allowed file paths, proper canonicalization of file paths, and comprehensive input filtering that rejects or escapes special characters that could enable path traversal. Organizations should also consider implementing proper access controls and privilege separation to limit the damage that could result from successful exploitation. The fix should involve upgrading to comelz Quark version 2019-03-26 or later, which includes proper path validation mechanisms that prevent directory traversal attacks. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and system administrators should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential compromise from prior exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the potential consequences of inadequate security controls in web applications and file handling systems.