CVE-2023-48242 in Nexo Cordless Nutrunner
Summary
by MITRE • 01/10/2024
The vulnerability allows an authenticated remote attacker to download arbitrary files in all paths of the system under the context of the application OS user (“root”) via a crafted HTTP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical arbitrary file download flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to access any file within the system's filesystem through a specially crafted HTTP request. The vulnerability exists within the application's file handling mechanism, where insufficient input validation and access control checks allow malicious actors to traverse directory structures and retrieve sensitive files without proper authorization. The attack vector operates through HTTP requests that manipulate file path parameters, exploiting a lack of proper sanitization and validation of user-supplied input. The security implications are severe as the vulnerability operates under the context of the application's OS user account, which in many cases runs with elevated privileges including root access. This means that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to critical system files, configuration data, and sensitive information stored within the application's directory structure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, and CWE-73 - External Control of File Name or Path, which are frequently observed in web applications where user input directly influences file system operations. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with path traversal attacks where attackers can manipulate directory path components to access files outside the intended directory scope. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations as it eliminates the need for complex exploitation techniques or additional attack vectors. The authenticated nature of the attack means that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials, but this is often achievable through various social engineering, credential theft, or other initial compromise methods that are commonly exploited in real-world scenarios.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft as it provides attackers with complete access to the application's filesystem, potentially exposing database files, configuration files, source code, and other sensitive artifacts that could be used for further attacks or lateral movement within the network. Attackers could leverage this capability to extract system configuration files that might reveal database credentials, application secrets, or other sensitive information that could facilitate additional compromise. The fact that the attack operates under the application's OS user context, particularly when that context is root, means that the attacker gains the highest level of system privileges available to the application. This vulnerability directly maps to several techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework including T1078 - Valid Accounts, T1566 - Phishing, and T1505.003 - Server Software Component, where attackers can use legitimate credentials to access system resources that should be restricted. Organizations are particularly vulnerable when this type of vulnerability exists in web applications that handle sensitive data or provide administrative functions, as it essentially provides a backdoor to complete system compromise without requiring additional reconnaissance or privilege escalation techniques.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization mechanisms that prevent path traversal attempts through HTTP requests. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied input related to file operations undergoes strict validation and that the application operates with the principle of least privilege, avoiding execution under root or administrative accounts. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and file system permissions can limit the damage that could occur even if the vulnerability is exploited. Regular security testing including penetration testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate such vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The implementation of web application firewalls and security monitoring systems can also help detect and prevent exploitation attempts of this type of vulnerability by monitoring for suspicious file access patterns and path traversal attempts in HTTP requests.