CVE-2022-29597 in Regulatory Reporting System
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2022
Solutions Atlantic Regulatory Reporting System (RRS) v500 is vulnerable to Local File Inclusion (LFI). Any authenticated user has the ability to reference internal system files within requests made to the RRSWeb/maint/ShowDocument/ShowDocument.aspx page. The server will successfully respond with the file contents of the internal system file requested. This ability could allow for adversaries to extract sensitive data and/or files from the underlying file system, gain knowledge about the internal workings of the system, or access source code of the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2022
The CVE-2022-29597 vulnerability affects Solutions Atlantic Regulatory Reporting System version 500, a critical component in financial and regulatory compliance environments where data protection and system integrity are paramount. This vulnerability represents a significant security weakness that directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive regulatory data. The affected system component is the RRSWeb/maint/ShowDocument/ShowDocument.aspx page which serves as a document viewing interface for authorized users within the regulatory reporting framework. The vulnerability manifests as a Local File Inclusion flaw that allows authenticated users to manipulate file path parameters and access internal system files through crafted HTTP requests. This represents a classic path traversal vulnerability that enables unauthorized file access within the application's file system boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the document viewing functionality. When authenticated users submit requests to the ShowDocument.aspx page, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied file path parameters, allowing attackers to inject malicious path sequences such as ../ or ../../ that traverse the file system hierarchy. This flaw directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal vulnerabilities. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires authentication, making it a medium severity issue that can be exploited by insiders or compromised legitimate users. The impact is particularly concerning in regulatory environments where systems process sensitive financial data, as it could expose confidential reports, configuration files, or even source code that might contain hard-coded credentials or system architecture details.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential system reconnaissance and information gathering activities that adversaries could leverage for further attacks. Successful exploitation allows threat actors to extract sensitive system files including configuration data, log files, and potentially source code repositories that could reveal implementation details and security weaknesses within the application. The vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to gain knowledge about the internal workings of the system, including file structures, directory layouts, and potentially sensitive data formats. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) as it enables systematic exploration of the file system and data extraction. The ability to access source code could reveal additional vulnerabilities or security misconfigurations that might not be immediately apparent through other reconnaissance methods.
Organizations using Solutions Atlantic Regulatory Reporting System should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves implementing strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file path operations. The application should enforce a whitelist-based approach for acceptable file paths, rejecting any input that attempts to traverse directories or access system files outside of designated document repositories. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation ensures that even if exploitation occurs, the scope of accessible files remains limited to authorized content. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious path traversal patterns in real-time. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that the implemented controls effectively prevent unauthorized file access. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in security architecture, particularly within regulated environments where compliance requirements demand strict data protection measures. Organizations should also conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar patterns in other application components that might be susceptible to the same class of vulnerabilities, ensuring comprehensive protection across all system interfaces.