CVE-2023-41291 in QuFirewall
Summary
by MITRE • 04/26/2024
A path traversal vulnerability has been reported to affect QuFirewall. If exploited, the vulnerability could allow authenticated administrators to read the contents of unexpected files and expose sensitive data via a network.
We have already fixed the vulnerability in the following version: QuFirewall 2.4.1 ( 2024/02/01 ) and later
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw in QuFirewall that enables authenticated administrators to access files outside of the intended directory structure. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the firewall's file handling mechanisms, allowing maliciously crafted paths to traverse directories and access sensitive system files. The vulnerability specifically affects the administrative interface where file operations are performed, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by any user with administrative privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-22 Path Traversal which is classified as a high-risk weakness in software security. The flaw operates by accepting user-supplied input that is not properly validated against a whitelist of allowed paths, enabling attackers to manipulate directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ to navigate to arbitrary locations on the filesystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. An attacker with administrative access could leverage this vulnerability to read system configuration files, password hashes, private keys, or other sensitive data that should remain isolated from unauthorized access. The vulnerability's network-based exploitation capability means that an attacker could remotely access these files without requiring physical access to the system. This represents a significant risk to organizations relying on QuFirewall for network security, as it undermines the fundamental principle of least privilege and could expose critical infrastructure components to unauthorized access. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only administrative credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses many traditional security controls that rely on network segmentation and access control.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate deployment of the patched version 2.4.1 or later, which implements proper input validation and path sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred before the patch was applied. Network segmentation and privilege separation should be enforced to limit the impact of administrative accounts, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual file access patterns. The remediation process should include validating that all administrative interfaces properly sanitize user input and implement proper access controls. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing principle of least privilege for administrative accounts and regularly audit administrative access logs to detect anomalous behavior. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts which emphasizes the importance of protecting administrative credentials and monitoring their usage. The fix implemented in QuFirewall 2.4.1 demonstrates proper security hardening through input validation and proper file access controls, addressing the root cause of the path traversal vulnerability. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly detect and respond to similar vulnerabilities in their network security infrastructure.