CVE-2026-102123 in Kiteworks
Summary
by MITRE • 10/01/2026
A Kiteworks appliance setup interface did not confine a user-supplied file path to its intended directory, which could allow an unauthenticated attacker to write a file to any location writable by the affected service account, potentially compromising the integrity of the appliance or rendering it unavailable until an operator intervenes. Exploitation requires network access to the affected interface, which is not reachable on a fully configured appliance in its default configuration; reaching it depends on either the transient window while an appliance is first being provisioned or a non-default appliance configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2026
The vulnerability identified involves a path traversal flaw within the Kiteworks appliance setup interface that allows for arbitrary file writes to locations outside of the intended directory scope. This issue stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of user-supplied input, specifically regarding file paths provided during the provisioning or configuration process. By manipulating these inputs, an attacker can bypass directory confinement mechanisms, effectively escaping the restricted environment where temporary files are typically stored. This lack of proper path normalization enables the writing of malicious content to arbitrary directories on the underlying operating system that have write permissions for the service account running the application. Such a flaw represents a classic instance of insecure direct object references combined with improper input validation, leading to potential unauthorized file creation and modification capabilities.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to both the integrity and availability of the affected Kiteworks appliance. An unauthenticated attacker who gains access to the vulnerable interface can exploit this flaw to overwrite critical system files or application configuration data. This could lead to a complete compromise of the appliance's security posture by allowing the injection of backdoors, modification of authentication mechanisms, or alteration of core application logic. Furthermore, if an attacker writes corrupt or malicious content to essential system directories, it may cause the service to crash or fail to start, resulting in a denial of service condition that requires manual intervention by an administrator to resolve. The impact is particularly severe because it affects the foundational setup phase of the appliance, potentially undermining trust in the entire deployment before normal operations even begin.
The exploitation vector for this vulnerability relies on network access to the specific setup interface involved in the provisioning process. It is important to note that under default configurations and fully provisioned appliances, this interface is typically not exposed or reachable from external networks, thereby limiting immediate risk in standard production environments. However, the window of exposure exists during the initial transient period when an appliance is being first set up or if a non-default configuration has been applied that exposes these administrative endpoints to less trusted network segments. Attackers targeting organizations with lax security policies regarding initial device provisioning or those using custom configurations could potentially intercept and exploit this vulnerability over the network without requiring prior authentication credentials.
To mitigate this risk, administrators should ensure that Kiteworks appliances are configured according to best practices that restrict access to setup interfaces only during necessary maintenance windows. It is crucial to apply any available vendor patches that address path traversal vulnerabilities in the provisioning logic as soon as they become available. Network segmentation strategies should be employed to isolate management and provisioning traffic from general user networks, ensuring that sensitive administrative endpoints are not accessible via public or untrusted network paths. Additionally, implementing strict input validation on all file system operations within application code is essential to prevent path manipulation attacks. Regular audits of appliance configurations can help identify any deviations from secure default settings that might inadvertently expose these interfaces to unauthorized access vectors.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) categories such as CWE-22, which describes Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, and CWE-94, concerning Code Injection through improper control of generation of code or script. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this flaw facilitates techniques related to Initial Access via Exploitation for Client Execution if combined with other vectors, but primarily it supports Persistence and Privilege Escalation by allowing an attacker to place malicious files in system directories that are loaded upon service restarts or executed automatically. Understanding these mappings helps security teams prioritize remediation efforts based on established industry standards for vulnerability management and risk assessment protocols.