CVE-2019-25099 in QSF-Portal
Summary
by MITRE • 01/06/2023
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Arthmoor QSF-Portal. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file index.php. The manipulation of the argument a leads to path traversal. The name of the patch is ea4f61e23ecb83247d174bc2e2cbab521c751a7d. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. VDB-217558 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-25099 represents a critical path traversal flaw within the Arthmoor QSF-Portal application, specifically affecting the index.php file. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters, particularly the argument 'a' which serves as the primary attack vector. Path traversal vulnerabilities occur when applications fail to adequately validate file paths, allowing attackers to access files outside the intended directory structure through manipulation of directory traversal sequences such as '../'. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user input, where the argument 'a' is directly processed without proper sanitization or validation, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to navigate the filesystem and potentially access sensitive files or execute unauthorized operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows established patterns described in CWE-22, which classifies path traversal issues as weaknesses in input validation. Attackers can manipulate the argument 'a' parameter to include directory traversal sequences that bypass normal file access controls, potentially leading to unauthorized file access, data exposure, or even remote code execution depending on the application's configuration and the files accessible through the vulnerable path. The specific patch identified as ea4f61e23ecb83247d174bc2e2cbab521c751a7d addresses this issue by implementing proper input validation and sanitization techniques that ensure all user-supplied paths are properly validated against a whitelist of acceptable values or properly encoded to prevent directory traversal sequences from being interpreted as legitimate file system navigation commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations utilizing Arthmoor QSF-Portal face significant risk of data breaches, especially if the application has access to sensitive files or databases that could be accessed through the path traversal exploit. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates that it can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the application is publicly accessible. This weakness directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers directory and file discovery activities that attackers often use to map system structures and identify valuable targets for further exploitation.
Security practitioners should implement immediate remediation measures by applying the provided patch to address the root cause of the vulnerability. The patch mechanism specifically targets the problematic handling of the argument 'a' parameter in index.php, ensuring that all file path operations are properly validated before execution. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any other potential path traversal vulnerabilities within their applications, particularly in areas where user input is processed directly without proper sanitization. Additional mitigations include implementing proper input validation frameworks, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious path traversal attempts, and conducting regular security testing to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other parts of the application infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in preventing common web application attacks and underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all application components to protect against known exploitation techniques.