CVE-2020-35883 in mozwire Crate
Summary
by MITRE • 12/31/2020
An issue was discovered in the mozwire crate through 2020-08-18 for Rust. A ../ directory-traversal situation allows overwriting local files that have .conf at the end of the filename.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The vulnerability in the mozwire crate represents a critical directory traversal flaw that enables malicious actors to manipulate file operations within affected systems. This issue specifically manifests when processing files with .conf extensions, creating a pathway for unauthorized file overwrites that can compromise system integrity and potentially lead to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and path sanitization mechanisms within the crate's file handling routines.
This directory traversal vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22 known as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')", which is categorized under the software security weakness taxonomy maintained by the Common Weakness Enumeration project. The flaw allows attackers to exploit the ../ path traversal sequence to navigate outside of intended directories and overwrite existing configuration files with malicious content. Such attacks typically occur when applications fail to properly validate user-supplied input before using it in file system operations, creating opportunities for privilege escalation and persistent compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwrites as attackers can leverage the .conf file extension targeting to disrupt critical system services or applications that rely on configuration files for operation. Configuration files often contain sensitive parameters, authentication credentials, or service settings that when overwritten can lead to complete system compromise. The attack vector becomes particularly dangerous in environments where the mozwire crate processes user input from untrusted sources without proper sanitization, potentially enabling remote code execution through malicious configuration file injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the crate's failure to properly sanitize file paths before performing write operations, allowing attackers to inject directory traversal sequences that bypass normal file access controls. This type of flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python" and T1068 for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" when such vulnerabilities are leveraged in broader attack chains. Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, path normalization, and privilege separation to prevent exploitation of this directory traversal vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies must focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms that reject or sanitize path traversal sequences before file operations occur. Organizations should consider upgrading to patched versions of the mozwire crate if available, implementing strict access controls for configuration files, and employing automated monitoring solutions that detect anomalous file modification patterns. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices such as using safe file handling libraries, implementing proper permission models, and conducting regular security assessments of third-party dependencies to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of the software ecosystem.