CVE-2021-21586 in Wyse Management Suite
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2021
Wyse Management Suite versions 3.2 and earlier contain an absolute path traversal vulnerability. A remote authenticated malicious user could exploit this vulnerability in order to read arbitrary files on the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2021
The Wyse Management Suite vulnerability CVE-2021-21586 represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw that affects versions 3.2 and earlier of this remote management software. This vulnerability resides within the authentication and file access mechanisms of the management suite, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system files. The vulnerability specifically targets the way the software handles file paths during remote management operations, allowing an authenticated attacker to manipulate file access requests and traverse the file system beyond intended boundaries. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles of access control and file system isolation, potentially exposing critical system resources to unauthorized reading operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted requests that manipulate path resolution mechanisms within the Wyse Management Suite. An attacker with valid authentication credentials can construct malicious file access requests that leverage directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate outside of the intended application directories. This allows the attacker to read arbitrary files on the system, potentially including configuration files, credential stores, log files, and other sensitive data that should remain protected. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of file path parameters, enabling attackers to inject malicious path components that bypass normal file system access controls. This vulnerability is classified as a CWE-22 path traversal weakness, which is a well-documented and frequently exploited category of security flaws in enterprise management software.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-21586 extends beyond simple unauthorized file reading, as it can enable attackers to gather intelligence about the target system, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can access system configuration files that may contain sensitive information such as database credentials, encryption keys, or other administrative access details. The vulnerability also allows access to log files that might contain authentication attempts, system errors, or other information that could aid in further attacks. This access capability can support advanced persistent threat operations, where attackers use the information gathered to plan more sophisticated attacks against the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the management suite's operational environment, potentially compromising the security of all devices managed through the affected system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-21586 should prioritize immediate patching of the Wyse Management Suite to versions that address the path traversal vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit the exposure of management systems to untrusted networks. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the management suite, and that access is restricted to necessary administrative functions. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block path traversal attempts, monitoring for unusual file access patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of management infrastructure. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, as it allows attackers to access sensitive system information that could be used to elevate their privileges or obtain additional credentials. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to detect similar path traversal issues in other management software components and ensure comprehensive protection against this class of attack.