CVE-2022-1992 in gogs
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2022
Path Traversal in GitHub repository gogs/gogs prior to 0.12.9.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1992 represents a critical path traversal flaw within the gogs git repository management system prior to version 0.12.9. This issue resides in the file handling mechanisms of the application, specifically in how it processes file paths during repository operations. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to access files outside the intended directory structure through crafted requests that manipulate path components. Such path traversal vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous as they can enable unauthorized access to sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially lead to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the gogs application's file handling routines. When users interact with repository content through the web interface or API endpoints, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize file paths that could contain directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\\. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious requests that bypass normal access controls and traverse the file system hierarchy. The flaw is classified under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes user-supplied input without adequate sanitization, allowing traversal sequences to be interpreted as legitimate path components rather than malicious input.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1992 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges within the affected system. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive configuration files, database credentials, private keys, or other confidential data stored on the server. The attack surface is particularly concerning for organizations using gogs as their primary git repository management solution, as it could provide access to source code repositories containing proprietary information, development artifacts, and potentially vulnerable application code. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing), as attackers could use the information gained to plan more sophisticated attacks or gain further system access through additional vulnerabilities discovered in the compromised repository.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to gogs version 0.12.9 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as no effective workarounds exist for this particular flaw. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive security auditing of all gogs installations, implementation of network segmentation to limit access to the repository management system, and deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious path traversal attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in their git repository management infrastructure. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous file access patterns and unusual directory traversal activities, as these may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in web applications, particularly those handling file system operations and user-supplied data.