Source: cve@mitre.org
Directory traversal vulnerability in vote.cgi for Mike Spice Mike's Vote CGI before 1.3 allows remote attackers to write arbitrary files via .. (dot dot) sequences in the type parameter.
Mike's Vote CGI versions prior to 1.3 are vulnerable to a critical directory traversal attack, enabling attackers to overwrite arbitrary files on the server. This vulnerability allows for complete system compromise by writing malicious code, potentially leading to remote code execution and data exfiltration.
Step 1: Payload Delivery: The attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request to vote.cgi, including a crafted type parameter. This parameter will contain a sequence of .. (dot-dot) characters to traverse the directory structure, followed by the desired target file path and the malicious content to be written.
Step 2: Request Processing: The vote.cgi script receives the HTTP request and attempts to process the type parameter. Due to the lack of input validation, the script doesn't filter or sanitize the .. sequences.
Step 3: File Path Construction: The script uses the unsanitized type parameter to construct the file path for writing the vote data. The .. sequences in the type parameter cause the script to navigate up the directory structure.
Step 4: File Overwrite: The script attempts to write the vote data (which is controlled by the attacker) to the file path constructed in the previous step. This overwrites the target file with the attacker-controlled content.
Step 5: System Compromise: If the attacker targets a critical system file (e.g., a web server configuration file, a script file in a web directory), they can achieve remote code execution or other forms of system compromise.
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation in the vote.cgi script when handling the type parameter. The script fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input, specifically the type parameter, allowing attackers to inject .. (dot-dot) sequences. These sequences are interpreted by the operating system as instructions to navigate up the directory tree. By crafting a malicious type parameter, an attacker can specify a target file outside of the intended directory, leading to file overwriting. The root cause is a lack of proper input validation and sanitization, allowing for the manipulation of file paths. This is a classic example of a path traversal vulnerability.
Due to the age of the vulnerability, it's unlikely to be directly associated with specific APT groups. However, any attacker with basic skills could exploit this. The impact of this vulnerability is severe, and it is a prime target for opportunistic attacks. CISA KEV status is unlikely due to the age of the vulnerability, but the impact warrants consideration for inclusion if found on a system.
Analyze web server access logs for suspicious requests to vote.cgi containing type parameters with .. sequences.
Monitor file system activity for unexpected file modifications, especially in critical system directories.
Implement file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to critical files.
Use a web application firewall (WAF) to block requests containing directory traversal patterns.
Network traffic analysis for HTTP POST requests to vote.cgi with long or unusual 'type' parameters.
Upgrade to Mike's Vote CGI version 1.3 or later.
Implement input validation and sanitization in the vote.cgi script to prevent directory traversal. Specifically, filter or reject any input containing .. sequences or other path manipulation characters.
Restrict the permissions of the web server user to only the necessary directories.
Use a web application firewall (WAF) to filter malicious requests.
Regularly scan the system for vulnerable software and apply security patches promptly.
Implement a defense-in-depth strategy, including file integrity monitoring and intrusion detection systems.