CVE-2019-13241 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

FlightCrew versions prior to v0.9.2 are vulnerable to a directory traversal issue that allows attackers to write arbitrary files by exploiting a ZIP archive entry mishandling.

Understanding CVE-2019-13241

FlightCrew v0.9.2 and older versions contain a security vulnerability that enables attackers to perform directory traversal attacks.

What is CVE-2019-13241?

The vulnerability in FlightCrew versions prior to v0.9.2 allows attackers to exploit a directory traversal issue, enabling them to write arbitrary files by misusing a "../" in a ZIP archive entry.

The Impact of CVE-2019-13241

This vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to write unauthorized files on the system, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data manipulation.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-13241

FlightCrew's vulnerability has the following technical details:

Vulnerability Description

Attackers can abuse the mishandling of ZIP archive entries to perform directory traversal attacks and write arbitrary files on the system.

Affected Systems and Versions

FlightCrew versions prior to v0.9.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation involves inserting "../" in a ZIP archive entry to navigate to parent directories and write files during the extraction process.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-13241, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update FlightCrew to version v0.9.2 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor for unauthorized file modifications or unexpected behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to prevent directory traversal vulnerabilities.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential security weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches released by the software vendor.