CVE-2024-39741 in Datacap Navigator
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2024
IBM Datacap Navigator 9.1.5, 9.1.6, 9.1.7, 9.1.8, and 9.1.9 could allow a remote attacker to traverse directories on the system. An attacker could send a specially crafted URL request containing "dot dot" sequences (/../) to view arbitrary files on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 296010.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2024
IBM Datacap Navigator versions 9.1.5 through 9.1.9 contain a critical directory traversal vulnerability that enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the underlying system through crafted URL requests. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper path handling within the application's web interface, allowing malicious actors to exploit the weakness by incorporating dot-dot-sequence characters into their requests. The flaw specifically affects the application's ability to properly sanitize user-supplied input that is used to construct file paths, creating an opportunity for unauthorized file access and potential data exfiltration. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22 as Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which represents a fundamental flaw in input validation and access control mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this weakness to navigate through the file system hierarchy and potentially access sensitive configuration files, log files, or even system binaries that should remain protected from external access. The impact extends beyond simple file enumeration as it provides attackers with the capability to retrieve confidential information that could include database connection strings, authentication credentials, or other sensitive system artifacts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use the discovered information to conduct further exploitation activities. The attack vector requires only a remote HTTP request containing malicious path sequences, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or local access to the system. The affected versions represent a significant security risk for organizations relying on IBM Datacap Navigator for document management and processing, as the vulnerability could enable complete compromise of the application's data integrity and confidentiality. Organizations using these specific versions should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, path sanitization, and network segmentation to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical gap in the application's security architecture where proper access controls and input sanitization mechanisms are insufficient to prevent directory traversal attacks, highlighting the importance of robust security practices in web application development and the necessity of regular security assessments to identify and remediate such flaws.