CVE-2018-14429 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in man-cgi version prior to 1.16 allows Local File Inclusion through absolute path traversal, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive files.

Understanding CVE-2018-14429

This CVE entry describes a security issue in man-cgi that could be exploited to access files on the system.

What is CVE-2018-14429?

CVE-2018-14429 is a vulnerability in man-cgi versions before 1.16 that enables attackers to perform Local File Inclusion attacks by traversing absolute paths.

The Impact of CVE-2018-14429

The vulnerability allows malicious actors to access sensitive files on the system, potentially leading to unauthorized disclosure of information or further exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-14429

This section provides more in-depth technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in man-cgi version prior to 1.16 permits Local File Inclusion through absolute path traversal, demonstrated by a specific URI.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: man-cgi
Affected Version: < 1.16

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by using a crafted URI, such as cgi-bin/man-cgi?/etc/passwd, to traverse absolute paths and access unauthorized files.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-14429 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update man-cgi to version 1.16 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement proper input validation to prevent path traversal attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit file access and permissions on the system.
Educate users and administrators about the risks of path traversal vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for man-cgi and promptly apply patches to address known vulnerabilities.