CVE-2021-30173 in Omnidirectional Communication System
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2021
Local File Inclusion vulnerability of the omni-directional communication system allows remote authenticated attacker inject absolute path into Url parameter and access arbitrary file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2021
The CVE-2021-30173 vulnerability represents a critical local file inclusion flaw within an omni-directional communication system that enables remote authenticated attackers to manipulate URL parameters and gain unauthorized access to arbitrary files on the affected system. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the communication framework's parameter handling processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's file access controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters where attackers can inject absolute file paths that bypass normal access controls. When the system processes these malformed parameters, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before using it in file operations, allowing the attacker to traverse the file system and access sensitive files that should otherwise be restricted. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the communication system's handling of user-supplied data that is subsequently used in file operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations to significant security risks including data breaches, information disclosure, and potential system compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other sensitive artifacts that may contain authentication tokens, encryption keys, or business-critical data. The remote authenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where network access is widespread.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and demonstrates how inadequate input validation can lead to path traversal attacks. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including TA0006 Credential Access through credential theft and TA0005 Defense Evasion through the exploitation of application vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, parameter sanitization, and the implementation of secure file access controls that enforce proper path validation and limit file system access to authorized operations only.
Security teams should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious URL parameter patterns. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in communication systems, particularly those handling user-supplied data in file access operations. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in related systems and ensure comprehensive protection against path traversal attacks.