CVE-2022-31556 in TrainEnergyServer
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2022
The rusyasoft/TrainEnergyServer repository through 2017-08-03 on GitHub allows absolute path traversal because the Flask send_file function is used unsafely.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-31556 resides within the rusyasoft/TrainEnergyServer repository, a project that appears to be a web application built using the Flask framework. This particular issue manifests as an unsafe implementation of the Flask send_file function, which creates a critical path traversal vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers. The repository's version control history indicates this vulnerability was present through the date 2017-08-03, suggesting a prolonged exposure window where the flaw could have been actively exploited without proper mitigation.
The technical flaw stems from the improper handling of file paths when utilizing Flask's send_file function, which is designed to securely serve files from the server to clients. When developers use this function without proper input validation or path sanitization, they create opportunities for attackers to manipulate the file path parameter to traverse the file system beyond the intended directory boundaries. This unsafe usage allows malicious actors to access files that should remain protected, potentially including sensitive configuration files, database credentials, source code, or other confidential data stored on the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables unauthorized file access and potential data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this path traversal flaw to read arbitrary files from the server's file system, which could lead to complete system compromise if sensitive information such as database connection strings, API keys, or application secrets are accessible. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the server and can potentially gain access to the entire file system structure, depending on the server's configuration and the privileges of the web application process.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which specifically addresses Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, and represents a classic example of unsafe file handling practices in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a Path Traversal technique under the T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) tactic, where adversaries can enumerate and access files that should be protected. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including proper input validation, implementing a whitelist approach for file access, using secure file serving mechanisms, and ensuring that all file path parameters are properly sanitized before being passed to functions like Flask's send_file. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar unsafe practices in other parts of the application stack.