CVE-2023-37532 in Commerce Remote Store Server
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
HCL Commerce Remote Store server could allow a remote attacker, using a specially-crafted URL, to read arbitrary files on the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-37532 affects HCL Commerce Remote Store server implementations, representing a critical path traversal flaw that enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected system. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of user-supplied URL parameters within the server's file access mechanisms. The flaw exists in the server's processing of file requests where maliciously crafted URLs can manipulate the file system path resolution, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data that should remain protected. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where commerce platforms often contain proprietary business data, customer information, and system configuration files that could be exploited for further attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting URLs that include directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate outside the intended directory structure and access files that should be restricted. The Remote Store server component typically handles various file operations including configuration files, log files, and potentially sensitive business data, making the impact of this vulnerability significant for organizations relying on HCL Commerce. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input sanitization where the server does not properly validate or sanitize the file path parameters before processing them, creating an attack surface that allows arbitrary file read operations.
Operationally, the impact of CVE-2023-37532 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within the compromised environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could access database configuration files containing credentials, application configuration files with sensitive settings, log files that might reveal internal system information, and potentially even source code repositories. The implications for enterprise security are severe as this vulnerability could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, and provide attackers with information needed for further exploitation. Organizations using HCL Commerce platforms may find their customer databases, transaction records, and business-critical configuration data at risk. The vulnerability also creates potential for privilege escalation attacks if the compromised server has access to additional systems or resources, as attackers could gather system information to plan more targeted attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-37532 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the HCL Commerce Remote Store server components. Organizations should immediately apply vendor-provided security patches or updates that address the path traversal vulnerability in the file access handling code. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the Remote Store server to only authorized networks and users. Input validation should include strict filtering of URL parameters to prevent directory traversal sequences from being processed, with the implementation of allowlists for acceptable file paths rather than denylists. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious file access patterns and unusual requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their HCL Commerce environments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other components, as this type of path traversal vulnerability often indicates broader security gaps in application design and implementation practices. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper defense-in-depth strategies that include web application firewalls, input validation, and regular security testing to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.