CVE-2023-26969 in Atropim
Summary
by MITRE • 04/14/2023
Atropim 1.5.26 is vulnerable to Directory Traversal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-26969 affects Atropim version 1.5.26 and represents a directory traversal flaw that allows attackers to access files and directories outside the intended scope of the application. This type of vulnerability typically arises when user input is not properly sanitized before being used in file system operations, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate file paths and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
Directory traversal vulnerabilities occur when an application fails to adequately validate or sanitize user-supplied input that is used in file operations. The flaw in Atropim 1.5.26 enables attackers to manipulate file path references through sequences such as ../ or ..\ which can navigate up directory trees and access files that should remain restricted. This vulnerability is categorized 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 technical implementation likely involves the application using user-controllable input directly in file system calls without proper input validation or canonicalization of file paths.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise if attackers can traverse to critical system files, configuration files, or sensitive data repositories. An attacker could exploit this weakness to read system configuration files, access database files, retrieve source code, or even execute arbitrary commands if the application runs with elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and confidentiality, potentially exposing sensitive information and creating persistent access points for further exploitation. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers discovering file and directory permissions, and T1566, which involves initial access through spearphishing attachments, where directory traversal could serve as a method for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-26969 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the Atropim application. Developers should employ secure coding practices that include canonicalizing file paths, implementing strict input validation, and using whitelisting approaches for file access operations. The application should validate all user-supplied input against a known set of acceptable values and reject any input containing directory traversal sequences. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation can significantly reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be implemented to ensure timely remediation of similar vulnerabilities in the application's dependencies and components.