CVE-2019-17404 in Impact
Summary
by MITRE
Nokia IMPACT < 18A: allows full path disclosure
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2024
Nokia IMPACT versions prior to 18A contain a critical path disclosure vulnerability that exposes sensitive system information through error messages and response headers. This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure flaws that can provide attackers with detailed system paths and directory structures. The flaw exists in the application's error handling mechanisms where unhandled exceptions or malformed requests trigger responses containing full file paths, directory structures, and potentially sensitive system information that should remain hidden from unauthorized users. Such information disclosure can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks by providing attackers with knowledge of the underlying system architecture and file locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling practices within the Nokia IMPACT application framework. When users submit malformed requests or when internal processing fails, the system generates error responses that include complete file paths from the server's file system. This occurs because the application does not properly sanitize error messages before returning them to clients, allowing the full path information to be exposed in HTTP responses or error logs. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it can reveal the exact directory structure of the server, including the installation path of the application, which can be leveraged by attackers to understand the system layout and identify potential attack vectors. This type of flaw is classified as CWE-209, Information Exposure Through an Error Message, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices that emphasize the importance of not revealing internal system information to end users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it significantly weakens the overall security posture of systems running affected Nokia IMPACT versions. Attackers can use the exposed path information to craft more targeted attacks, including directory traversal attempts, file inclusion exploits, or other attacks that rely on knowledge of the system's file structure. The exposure of full paths can enable attackers to bypass security controls, identify the exact version of the application, and potentially discover other vulnerabilities within the system. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1083, File and Directory Discovery, as it provides adversaries with automated means of gathering system information that would otherwise require manual reconnaissance. Additionally, the presence of such information disclosure can facilitate further exploitation by allowing attackers to identify sensitive files, configuration data, or system components that should remain hidden from unauthorized access.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Nokia IMPACT version 18A or later, which contains patches addressing this vulnerability. System administrators should also configure the application to suppress detailed error messages in production environments, implement proper input validation for all user inputs, and ensure that error handling routines do not expose system path information. Additional protective measures include monitoring for unusual error patterns, implementing web application firewalls to filter potentially malicious requests, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and proper error handling procedures, as even seemingly minor flaws in error message generation can provide attackers with significant information advantages. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security scanning tools to detect similar path disclosure vulnerabilities across their entire application portfolio, as this type of information exposure can occur in various forms throughout different software components and frameworks.