CVE-2021-36233 in MIK.starlight
Summary
by MITRE • 09/01/2021
The function AdminGetFirstFileContentByFilePath in MIK.starlight 7.9.5.24363 allows (by design) an authenticated attacker to read arbitrary files from the filesystem by specifying the file path.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-36233 resides within the MIK.starlight 7.9.5.24363 application, specifically within the AdminGetFirstFileContentByFilePath function. This function is designed to retrieve file content from the filesystem but operates with insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to exploit the function by providing arbitrary file paths, thereby enabling unauthorized file access that should otherwise be restricted. This represents a critical security weakness that fundamentally undermines the application's file system access controls and data protection measures. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates by design rather than through a coding error, meaning the functionality was intentionally implemented without proper security boundaries.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability constitutes a classic path traversal or directory traversal attack vector, which aligns with CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The function fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied file path parameters before attempting to access the filesystem. An authenticated attacker can manipulate the input parameters to navigate to sensitive system files, configuration files, or other restricted resources that should not be accessible through this interface. The implementation likely lacks proper input sanitization, path normalization, or access control checks that would normally prevent such unauthorized access patterns. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where applications may have elevated privileges and access to sensitive data repositories.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to gain insights into system architecture, access sensitive configuration files, potentially extract credentials, and establish further attack vectors. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to read system files, application logs, database connection strings, or other confidential information that could lead to privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The authenticated nature of the attack reduces the barrier to exploitation compared to unauthenticated attacks, making it more likely to be successfully exploited in real-world scenarios. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can result in complete system compromise if sensitive files containing authentication tokens, encryption keys, or system configurations are accessible through this interface.
Security mitigations for CVE-2021-36233 should focus on implementing robust input validation and access control measures. Organizations should immediately apply vendor patches or updates when available, as this vulnerability is likely to be actively exploited in the wild. The function implementation must include proper path validation that prevents traversal attacks, such as rejecting input containing sequences like '../' or '\\\\'. Additionally, the application should implement a whitelist approach for allowed file paths or enforce strict directory boundaries to prevent access to system directories. Implementing proper authentication and authorization checks, including role-based access controls, can further limit the impact of this vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring for unusual file access patterns can provide additional detection capabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts and T1566 - Phishing, as it can be used to escalate privileges or establish persistence by accessing sensitive system files and configuration data. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other functions that may expose filesystem access capabilities.