CVE-2022-41761 in NFM-T
Summary
by MITRE • 12/25/2023
An issue was discovered in NOKIA NFM-T R19.9. An Absolute Path Traversal vulnerability exists under /cgi-bin/R19.9/viewlog.pl of the VM Manager WebUI via the logfile parameter, allowing a remote authenticated attacker to read arbitrary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41761 represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw within the Nokia NFM-T R19.9 VM Manager WebUI component. This security weakness resides in the /cgi-bin/R19.9/viewlog.pl script where the logfile parameter fails to properly validate or sanitize user input. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to manipulate file paths and access arbitrary files on the underlying filesystem, potentially exposing sensitive system information, configuration data, or operational logs. Such vulnerabilities fall under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-22, which specifically addresses path traversal attacks that enable unauthorized access to files and directories. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the web-based management interface of a network function management system, providing attackers with potential access to critical operational data that could compromise the entire network infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user to leverage the unvalidated logfile parameter in the viewlog.pl script. When an attacker submits a malicious path traversal payload through this parameter, the application fails to implement proper input validation, allowing the attacker to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries and access files outside the restricted path. The flaw demonstrates a classic path traversal vulnerability where insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input enables attackers to craft requests that can read system files, configuration databases, or sensitive log files. This type of attack aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1083 technique for discovering files and directories, and specifically relates to T1566 for credential access through exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple file reading as it could potentially expose administrative credentials, system configurations, or other sensitive data that could be used for further attacks within the network.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-41761 is significant for organizations deploying Nokia NFM-T R19.9 systems, as it provides attackers with the capability to extract sensitive information from the management interface. This could result in unauthorized access to system logs, configuration files, and potentially administrative credentials that could be used to escalate privileges or gain deeper access to the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the VM Manager WebUI which serves as a critical interface for managing virtual network functions, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise network operations. Organizations using this software may face risks including data exfiltration, system compromise, and potential disruption of network services. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials, but this requirement does not significantly mitigate the risk since legitimate users with access to the system could potentially abuse their privileges or credential theft could occur through other attack vectors. The vulnerability's presence in a management interface specifically designed for network function management creates a high-risk scenario where compromise of this component could lead to widespread network disruption or unauthorized access to virtualized network services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-41761 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Nokia NFM-T R19.9 software to address the path traversal vulnerability in the viewlog.pl script. Organizations should implement input validation and sanitization measures to ensure that all user-supplied parameters are properly validated before being processed by the application. The implementation of proper access controls and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit the scope of potential damage from any successful exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and monitoring of the web interface should be enhanced to detect suspicious access patterns or attempts to exploit the vulnerability. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of the system's file access permissions and implement proper file system hardening to limit access to sensitive files and directories. Regular security assessments should be performed to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the network infrastructure. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious path traversal attempts, and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts to system files through the web interface. The remediation process should also include credential rotation for any accounts that may have been compromised through exploitation of this vulnerability, and comprehensive security awareness training for system administrators to prevent unauthorized access to the management interface.