CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-40747NVD status: Deferred

pmman.exe (Standard edition): Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-40747 is a high-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in pmman.exe (Standard edition) from A.K.I Software, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected pmman.exe (Standard edition) versions: 2.5.1.12154 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.29% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 71% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update pmman.exe\/standard_edition\/ to 2.5.1.12154 or a later version.
  2. Update pmman.exe\/pro_edition\/ to 2.5.1.12155 or a later version.
  3. Update pmman.exe\/standard_plus_imap4_edition to 2.5.1.12156 or a later version.
  4. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
A.K.I Softwarepmman.exe (Standard edition)2.5.1.12154 and earlierNot stated
A.K.I Softwarepmman.exe (Pro edition)2.5.1.12155 and earlierNot stated
A.K.I Softwarepmman.exe (Standard + IMAP4 edition)2.5.1.12156 and earlierNot stated
A.K.I Softwarepmman.exe (Pro + IMAP4 edition)2.5.1.12157 and earlierNot stated
A.K.I Softwarepmman.exe (Enterprise edition)2.5.1.12158 and earlierNot stated
Akipmman.exe\/standard_edition\/before 2.5.1.121542.5.1.12154
Akipmman.exe\/pro_edition\/before 2.5.1.121552.5.1.12155
Akipmman.exe\/standard_plus_imap4_editionbefore 2.5.1.121562.5.1.12156
Akipmman.exe\/pro_plus_imap4_edition\/before 2.5.1.121572.5.1.12157
Akipmman.exe\/enterprise_edition\/before 2.5.1.121582.5.1.12158

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by CISA (ADP).

Official description

Directory traversal vulnerability exists in A.K.I Software's PMailServer/PMailServer2 products' CGIs included in Internal Simple Webserver. If this vulnerability is exploited, a remote attacker may access arbitrary files outside DocumentRoot.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory

The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
  • Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth.

More Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities (CWE-22)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities

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