CVE-2021-38136 in SecureWatch Managed Services
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2021
Corero SecureWatch Managed Services 9.7.2.0020 is affected by a Path Traversal vulnerability via the snap_file parameter in the /it-IT/splunkd/__raw/services/get_snapshot HTTP API endpoint. A ‘low privileged’ attacker can read any file on the target host.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2021-38136 represents a critical path traversal flaw in Corero SecureWatch Managed Services version 9.7.2.0020 that exposes the system to unauthorized file access. This issue resides within the HTTP API endpoint at /it-IT/splunkd/__raw/services/get_snapshot which processes the snap_file parameter without proper input validation or sanitization. The vulnerability allows a low privileged attacker to manipulate file paths and access sensitive files on the target host through crafted requests that exploit improper path resolution mechanisms. Such path traversal vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-22 according to the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a malicious snap_file parameter value that includes directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\.. to navigate outside the intended directory boundaries. This allows the application to resolve and return arbitrary file contents from the filesystem, potentially exposing configuration files, database credentials, system logs, or other sensitive data. The impact is particularly severe because the vulnerability affects a managed services platform that likely handles network security monitoring data, making the potential compromise of sensitive security information especially dangerous. The attack vector specifically targets the splunkd service integration within the SecureWatch platform, indicating that the vulnerability may extend to data processing and storage components that are critical to the platform's security monitoring capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can potentially enable further exploitation within the affected system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to system configuration files that might reveal internal network structures, authentication mechanisms, or other sensitive operational details. This information could then be leveraged to plan more sophisticated attacks or to escalate privileges within the system. The fact that this vulnerability affects a security monitoring platform creates a particularly concerning scenario where an attacker could potentially access or corrupt the very data that should be protecting the network infrastructure. The low privilege requirement means that even users with minimal access rights could exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have access to the system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of the snap_file parameter, implementing proper path validation to prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed. The recommended approach involves using a whitelist-based validation mechanism that only accepts predefined, safe file paths and rejecting any input containing traversal sequences. Additionally, the system should be configured to run with minimal required privileges and to implement proper access controls that limit which users can access the affected API endpoint. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect and alert on suspicious API requests that attempt to exploit path traversal vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 Phishing, as attackers often use path traversal to gain initial access to systems before escalating privileges or extracting sensitive data. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and security patches to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities in their network security infrastructure.