Vulnerabilities > CVE-2011-0426 - Path Traversal vulnerability in VMWare Vcenter and Virtualcenter

047910
CVSS 4.3 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
MEDIUM
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
PARTIAL
Integrity impact
NONE
Availability impact
NONE
network
vmware
CWE-22
nessus

Summary

Directory traversal vulnerability in vCenter Server in VMware vCenter 4.0 before Update 3 and 4.1 before Update 1, and VMware VirtualCenter 2.5 before Update 6a, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Vmware
10

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Relative Path Traversal
    An attacker exploits a weakness in input validation on the target by supplying a specially constructed path utilizing dot and slash characters for the purpose of obtaining access to arbitrary files or resources. An attacker modifies a known path on the target in order to reach material that is not available through intended channels. These attacks normally involve adding additional path separators (/ or \) and/or dots (.), or encodings thereof, in various combinations in order to reach parent directories or entirely separate trees of the target's directory structure.
  • Directory Traversal
    An attacker with access to file system resources, either directly or via application logic, will use various file path specification or navigation mechanisms such as ".." in path strings and absolute paths to extend their range of access to inappropriate areas of the file system. The attacker attempts to either explore the file system for recon purposes or access directories and files that are intended to be restricted from their access. Exploring the file system can be achieved through constructing paths presented to directory listing programs, such as "ls" and 'dir', or through specially crafted programs that attempt to explore the file system. The attacker engaging in this type of activity is searching for information that can be used later in a more exploitive attack. Access to restricted directories or files can be achieved through modification of path references utilized by system applications.
  • File System Function Injection, Content Based
    An attack of this type exploits the host's trust in executing remote content including binary files. The files are poisoned with a malicious payload (targeting the file systems accessible by the target software) by the attacker and may be passed through standard channels such as via email, and standard web content like PDF and multimedia files. The attacker exploits known vulnerabilities or handling routines in the target processes. Vulnerabilities of this type have been found in a wide variety of commercial applications from Microsoft Office to Adobe Acrobat and Apple Safari web browser. When the attacker knows the standard handling routines and can identify vulnerabilities and entry points they can be exploited by otherwise seemingly normal content. Once the attack is executed, the attackers' program can access relative directories such as C:\Program Files or other standard system directories to launch further attacks. In a worst case scenario, these programs are combined with other propagation logic and work as a virus.
  • Using Slashes and URL Encoding Combined to Bypass Validation Logic
    This attack targets the encoding of the URL combined with the encoding of the slash characters. An attacker can take advantage of the multiple way of encoding an URL and abuse the interpretation of the URL. An URL may contain special character that need special syntax handling in order to be interpreted. Special characters are represented using a percentage character followed by two digits representing the octet code of the original character (%HEX-CODE). For instance US-ASCII space character would be represented with %20. This is often referred as escaped ending or percent-encoding. Since the server decodes the URL from the requests, it may restrict the access to some URL paths by validating and filtering out the URL requests it received. An attacker will try to craft an URL with a sequence of special characters which once interpreted by the server will be equivalent to a forbidden URL. It can be difficult to protect against this attack since the URL can contain other format of encoding such as UTF-8 encoding, Unicode-encoding, etc.
  • Manipulating Input to File System Calls
    An attacker manipulates inputs to the target software which the target software passes to file system calls in the OS. The goal is to gain access to, and perhaps modify, areas of the file system that the target software did not intend to be accessible.

Nessus

  • NASL familyMisc.
    NASL idVMWARE_VMSA-2011-0008_REMOTE.NASL
    descriptionThe remote VMware ESX / ESXi host is missing a security-related patch. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities : - A directory traversal vulnerability exists that allows a remote attacker to read arbitrary files. (CVE-2011-0426) - An information disclosure vulnerability exists due to insecure storage of SOAP sesion IDs in a log file. A local attacker can exploit this to disclose administrative user IDs. (CVE-2011-1788) - A digital signature verification weakness exists in the self-extracting installer in the vSphere Client Installer package. A remote attacker can exploit this to spoof the software distribution via a Trojan horse installer. (CVE-2011-1789)
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id89677
    published2016-03-04
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2016-2018 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/89677
    titleVMware ESX / ESXi Multiple Vulnerabilities (VMSA-2011-0008) (remote check)
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(89677);
      script_version("1.3");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2018/08/06 14:03:16");
    
      script_cve_id(
        "CVE-2011-0426",
        "CVE-2011-1788",
        "CVE-2011-1789"
      );
      script_bugtraq_id(
        47735,
        47742,
        47744
      );
      script_xref(name:"VMSA", value:"2011-0008");
    
      script_name(english:"VMware ESX / ESXi Multiple Vulnerabilities (VMSA-2011-0008) (remote check)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks the ESX / ESXi version and build number.");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
    "The remote VMware ESX / ESXi host is missing a security-related patch.");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
    "The remote VMware ESX / ESXi host is missing a security-related patch.
    It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities :
    
      - A directory traversal vulnerability exists that allows a
        remote attacker to read arbitrary files. (CVE-2011-0426)
    
      - An information disclosure vulnerability exists due to
        insecure storage of SOAP sesion IDs in a log file. A
        local attacker can exploit this to disclose
        administrative user IDs. (CVE-2011-1788)
    
      - A digital signature verification weakness exists in the
        self-extracting installer in the vSphere Client
        Installer package. A remote attacker can exploit this to
        spoof the software distribution via a Trojan horse
        installer. (CVE-2011-1789)");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0008");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://lists.vmware.com/pipermail/security-announce/2011/000137.html");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
    "Apply the appropriate patch according to the vendor advisory that
    pertains to ESX version 4.0 or ESXi version 4.0.");
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"remote");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:vmware:esx");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:vmware:esxi");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2011/05/05");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2011/05/05");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2016/03/04");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2016-2018 Tenable Network Security, Inc.");
      script_family(english:"Misc.");
    
      script_dependencies("vmware_vsphere_detect.nbin");
      script_require_keys("Host/VMware/version", "Host/VMware/release");
      script_require_ports("Host/VMware/vsphere");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("global_settings.inc");
    include("misc_func.inc");
    
    ver = get_kb_item_or_exit("Host/VMware/version");
    rel = get_kb_item_or_exit("Host/VMware/release");
    port = get_kb_item_or_exit("Host/VMware/vsphere");
    esx = '';
    
    if ("ESX" >!< rel)
      audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "VMware ESX/ESXi");
    
    extract = eregmatch(pattern:"^(ESXi?) (\d\.\d).*$", string:ver);
    if (isnull(extract))
      audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_APP_VER, "VMware ESX/ESXi");
    else
    {
      esx = extract[1];
      ver = extract[2];
    }
    
    # fixed build numbers are the same for ESX and ESXi
    fixes = make_array(
              "4.0", "360236"
            );
    
    fix = FALSE;
    fix = fixes[ver];
    
    # get the build before checking the fix for the most complete audit trail
    extract = eregmatch(pattern:'^VMware ESXi?.* build-([0-9]+)$', string:rel);
    if (isnull(extract))
      audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_BUILD, "VMware " + esx, ver);
    
    build = int(extract[1]);
    
    # if there is no fix in the array, fix is FALSE
    if (!fix)
      audit(AUDIT_INST_VER_NOT_VULN, "VMware " + esx, ver, build);
    
    if (build < fix)
    {
    
      report = '\n  Version         : ' + esx + " " + ver +
               '\n  Installed build : ' + build +
               '\n  Fixed build     : ' + fix +
               '\n';
    
      security_report_v4(port:port, extra:report, severity:SECURITY_WARNING);
      exit(0);
    }
    else
      audit(AUDIT_INST_VER_NOT_VULN, "VMware " + esx, ver, build);
    
  • NASL familyVMware ESX Local Security Checks
    NASL idVMWARE_VMSA-2011-0008.NASL
    descriptiona. vCenter Server Directory Traversal vulnerability A directory traversal vulnerability allows an attacker to remotely retrieve files from vCenter Server without authentication. In order to exploit this vulnerability, the attacker will need to have access to the network on which the vCenter Server host resides. In case vCenter Server is installed on Windows 2008 or Windows 2008 R2, the security vulnerability is not present. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2011-0426 to this issue. b. vCenter Server SOAP ID disclosure The SOAP session ID can be retrieved by any user that is logged in to vCenter Server. This might allow a local unprivileged user on vCenter Server to elevate his or her privileges. VMware would like to thank Claudio Criscione for reporting this issue to us. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2011-1788 to this issue. c. vSphere Client Installer package not digitally signed The digitally signed vSphere Client installer is packaged in a self-extracting installer package which is not digitally signed. As a result, when you run the install package file to extract and start installing, the vSphere Client installer may display a Windows warning message stating that the publisher of the install package cannot be verified. The vSphere Client Installer package of the following product versions is now digitally signed : vCenter Server 4.1 Update 1 vCenter Server 4.0 Update 3 ESXi 4.1 Update 1 ESXi 4.0 with patch ESXi400-201103402-SG ESX 4.1 Update 1 ESX 4.0 with patch ESX400-201103401-SG An install or update of the vSphere Client from these releases will not present a security warning from Windows. Note: typically the vSphere Client will request an update if the existing client is pointed at a newer version of vCenter or ESX. VMware Knowledge Base article 1021404 explains how the unsigned install package can be obtained in an alternative, secure way for an environment with VirtualCenter 2.5, ESXi/ESX 3.5 or ESX 3.0.3. VMware would like to thank Claudio Criscione for reporting this issue to us. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2011-1789 to this issue.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id53840
    published2011-05-09
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2011-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/53840
    titleVMSA-2011-0008 : VMware vCenter Server and vSphere Client security vulnerabilities