CVE-2023-6032 in Galaxy VS
Summary
by MITRE • 11/15/2023
A CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability exists that could cause a file system enumeration and file download when an attacker navigates to the Network Management Card via HTTPS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6032 represents a critical path traversal flaw classified under CWE-22, which fundamentally compromises the security boundaries of network management systems. This weakness allows attackers to bypass intended directory restrictions and access arbitrary files within the system's file hierarchy. The vulnerability specifically affects network management cards that operate over HTTPS, creating a significant attack surface where unauthorized users can exploit the flawed path validation mechanisms to navigate beyond the intended restricted directories.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the network management card's file access routines. When an attacker establishes an HTTPS connection to the management interface, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied path parameters that are used to determine file access locations. This deficiency enables malicious actors to craft specially formatted requests containing directory traversal sequences such as "../" or similar patterns that allow them to traverse upward through the directory structure and access files outside the intended restricted paths.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to network infrastructure security as it enables comprehensive file system enumeration and unauthorized data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers can systematically explore the target system's file structure to identify sensitive information, configuration files, credentials, or other valuable assets that may be stored in directories outside the intended access boundaries. The ability to download arbitrary files through this vulnerability means that attackers can potentially extract system binaries, configuration files, or even sensitive data that could be used for further exploitation or lateral movement within the network environment.
The impact of CVE-2023-6032 aligns with several tactics and techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and reconnaissance activities. This vulnerability directly supports initial access and persistence phases where attackers can gather intelligence about the target system while also enabling data theft operations. The weakness creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by both internal and external attackers who gain access to the network management card interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where these management interfaces are exposed to untrusted networks or where default credentials are not properly changed.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all path parameters, implementation of strict access controls and authentication mechanisms, and regular security updates to address the underlying path traversal vulnerability. The remediation approach should focus on enforcing proper path validation that prevents directory traversal attempts and ensures that all file access operations occur within explicitly defined and restricted directories. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of management interface traffic can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that all path handling mechanisms properly enforce access controls and prevent unauthorized file system access.