CVE-2020-36629 in httpster
Summary
by MITRE • 12/25/2022
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in SimbCo httpster. This vulnerability affects the function fs.realpathSync of the file src/server.coffee. The manipulation leads to path traversal. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The name of the patch is d3055b3e30b40b65d30c5a06d6e053dffa7f35d0. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-216748.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-36629 represents a critical path traversal flaw within the SimbCo httpster web server implementation. This security weakness resides in the fs.realpathSync function located within the src/server.coffee file, demonstrating a fundamental flaw in how the application handles file system operations and path resolution. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly constrain user-supplied paths, creating an exploitable condition where malicious actors can manipulate file system access through carefully crafted requests. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes file system operations without sufficient verification of path boundaries, allowing attackers to traverse directories beyond the intended scope. This critical vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and actively exploited in the wild, making it particularly dangerous for affected systems. The patch referenced as d3055b3e30b40b65d30c5a06d6e053dffa7f35d0 addresses the core issue by implementing proper path validation and normalization techniques that prevent unauthorized directory traversal attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses path traversal or directory traversal attacks, where attackers can access files and directories outside the intended scope by manipulating input parameters. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to system confidentiality and integrity, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to access sensitive files, configuration data, or system resources that should remain protected. The attack surface extends beyond simple file access to potentially compromise the entire application server and underlying infrastructure, especially when combined with other exploitation techniques. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access tactics, as attackers can leverage path traversal to gain unauthorized access to system resources. Organizations running affected versions of SimbCo httpster must prioritize immediate patch deployment to mitigate the risk of exploitation, as the public availability of exploit code significantly increases the likelihood of successful attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in server-side applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing that includes file system interaction scenarios. Without proper mitigation, this vulnerability can serve as a gateway for more sophisticated attacks, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data breaches. Security teams should implement additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts, while also conducting thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any similar issues within their broader software ecosystem.