CVE-2019-3897 in Certification
Summary
by MITRE • 03/17/2021
It has been discovered in redhat-certification that any unauthorized user may download any file under /var/www/rhcert, provided they know its name. Red Hat Certification 6 and 7 is vulnerable to this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3897 represents a critical access control flaw within Red Hat Certification systems version 6 and 7. This issue stems from inadequate authorization mechanisms that allow any unauthenticated user to access files stored in the /var/www/rhcert directory structure. The flaw manifests as a directory traversal vulnerability that bypasses normal authentication and authorization checks, creating an unrestricted file access condition that can be exploited by malicious actors without requiring valid credentials or privileges. The affected system components operate under the assumption that legitimate users would only access files through proper authenticated channels, but this trust model has been compromised through the lack of proper access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the web application's file access validation logic. When users attempt to download files from the certification system, the application does not properly verify whether the requesting user has appropriate authorization to access the specific file being requested. This creates a path traversal scenario where the system accepts any file name within the designated directory structure and serves it without authentication verification. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core certification infrastructure, potentially exposing sensitive certification materials, user data, and system configuration files that should remain protected. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which specifically addresses the issue of insufficient restrictions on file access paths.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-3897 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it creates potential for data exfiltration and system compromise. Attackers could potentially extract certification databases, user credentials, system configuration files, or other sensitive materials that may contain proprietary information or personal data. The vulnerability affects both Red Hat Certification 6 and 7 platforms, indicating a widespread issue across multiple versions of the certification system. This exposure could lead to credential theft, intellectual property loss, and potential compromise of the certification process integrity. The flaw could also enable attackers to gather information about the internal system structure, potentially facilitating more sophisticated attacks against the broader infrastructure. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 - Valid Accounts and T1566 - Phishing, as it could be exploited through credential compromise or social engineering to gain access to sensitive certification materials.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms throughout the certification system. Organizations should immediately implement file access restrictions that validate user permissions before serving any content from the /var/www/rhcert directory. The system should enforce authentication checks for all file access requests and implement proper authorization controls that ensure only authorized users can access specific files. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to the certification system to authorized networks and users only. Additionally, implementing logging and monitoring for file access attempts can help detect and respond to unauthorized access attempts. Regular security audits should verify that access controls are properly configured and that no unauthorized access paths remain available. The remediation process should include updating the web application code to properly validate file access requests and implement proper input sanitization to prevent path traversal attacks. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as mandatory access controls, file integrity monitoring, and regular security assessments to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.