CVE-2021-41547 in Teamcenter Active Workspace
Summary
by MITRE • 12/14/2021
A vulnerability has been identified in Teamcenter Active Workspace V4.3 (All versions < V4.3.11), Teamcenter Active Workspace V5.0 (All versions < V5.0.10), Teamcenter Active Workspace V5.1 (All versions < V5.1.6), Teamcenter Active Workspace V5.2 (All versions < V5.2.3). The application contains an unsafe unzipping pattern that could lead to a zip path traversal attack. This could allow and attacker to execute a remote shell with admin rights.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2021
This vulnerability exists within Siemens Teamcenter Active Workspace software across multiple version lines including V4.3, V5.0, V5.1, and V5.2, where the application fails to properly validate archive contents during decompression operations. The flaw stems from an unsafe unzipping pattern that does not adequately sanitize file paths within compressed archives, creating a path traversal condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate the extraction process. According to CWE-22, this represents a classic path traversal vulnerability where attacker-controlled archive entries can specify arbitrary file paths that bypass normal directory boundaries during decompression. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it enables remote code execution with administrative privileges, as demonstrated by the ability to execute a remote shell through the compromised decompression process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's handling of zip file contents without proper validation of relative path sequences such as ../ or ..\ that could cause files to be extracted outside of the intended target directory. When the application processes user-supplied zip archives, it fails to sanitize the file paths contained within these archives, allowing attackers to craft malicious archives that, when decompressed, overwrite critical system files or create backdoor executables in privileged locations. This pattern of insecure decompression aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries leverage compromised systems to execute malicious code through the established administrative access. The vulnerability affects all versions prior to the respective patch releases V4.3.11, V5.0.10, V5.1.6, and V5.2.3, indicating that Siemens recognized this as a significant security gap requiring immediate remediation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the compromised system through the executed remote shell. This capability enables adversaries to maintain long-term presence within the network, escalate privileges further, and potentially use the compromised system as a launching point for lateral movement attacks against other systems. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that attackers do not require physical access or prior authentication to exploit the flaw, making it particularly attractive for automated attack campaigns. Organizations utilizing Teamcenter Active Workspace across their engineering and product lifecycle management processes face significant risk, as this vulnerability could compromise sensitive intellectual property, disrupt operations, and potentially lead to supply chain compromise. The attack surface includes any system that processes user-uploaded zip files through the vulnerable Active Workspace components, making it a critical concern for enterprises managing large-scale product development environments.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches for each affected version line to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to isolate systems running Teamcenter Active Workspace from critical network segments, limiting potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. Input validation controls should be enhanced to verify archive contents before decompression, including checking for directory traversal sequences in file paths. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar unsafe decompression patterns in other applications and systems. Organizations should also implement monitoring controls to detect unusual file extraction activities or unauthorized shell execution attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in archive handling operations and aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks for preventing path traversal attacks in web applications and enterprise software systems.