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February 7, 2025
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How to Fix CVE-2025-24786: A Critical Path Traversal Vulnerability in WhoDB Database Management Tool?
A critical vulnerability, CVE-2025-24786, has been identified in the WhoDB database management tool. This path traversal flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to potentially access sensitive data from any SQLite3 database on the system, leading to unauthorized information disclosure. This article provides a comprehensive guide for security professionals, including those in DevSecOps, application security, and vulnerability management, to understand, detect, and remediate this high-severity vulnerability. By following the steps outlined below, you can secure your systems and prevent potential data breaches.
A Short Introduction to WhoDB
WhoDB is an open-source database management tool designed for viewing and managing SQLite3 databases. It offers a user-friendly interface to interact with database files. By default, WhoDB is configured to display databases located within the /db/ directory. However, the absence of proper path traversal prevention mechanisms opens the door to a significant security risk.
Summary of CVE-2025-24786
CVE ID: CVE-2025-24786
Description: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
CVSS Score: 10.0 (Critical)
CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
CVE-2025-24786 is a critical path traversal vulnerability present in WhoDB. The application lacks proper input validation and sanitization for database file paths. Specifically, while WhoDB intends to only serve SQLite3 databases from the /db/ directory (or ./tmp/ in development mode), it fails to adequately verify that the database file being accessed actually resides within this restricted directory. This oversight allows an unauthenticated attacker to exploit path traversal techniques, such as using ../../ sequences, to navigate outside the intended directory and access any SQLite3 database file on the host system. The vulnerability is easily exploitable due to the lack of authentication requirements and the simple attack vector of manipulating the database file path. You can find more details about this vulnerability on NVD.
Impact of CVE-2025-24786
The exploitation of CVE-2025-24786 poses a severe threat to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data. By successfully exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker can gain unauthorized access to any SQLite3 database file present on the system. This could expose confidential information such as user credentials, financial records, or other proprietary data. The potential for data breaches is significant, as the attacker can read and potentially modify sensitive data without proper authorization. The high CVSS score of 10.0 (Critical) reflects the severity of the vulnerability, indicating that it can be exploited remotely, requires low attack complexity, and results in a complete compromise of confidentiality and integrity, affecting resources beyond the security scope of the vulnerable component.
Products Affected by CVE-2025-24786
The following versions of WhoDB are affected by CVE-2025-24786:
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Product
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Version
|
|---|---|
|
WhoDB
|
All versions prior to 0.45.0
|
Version 0.45.0 and later are not affected, as the vulnerability has been patched in these releases.
How to Check Your Product is Vulnerable?
1. Version Verification: The most straightforward method is to check the installed version of WhoDB. If you are running a version prior to 0.45.0, your system is vulnerable. You can typically find the version information in the application's "About" section or through the command-line interface (if available).
2. Path Traversal Testing: You can manually test for the path traversal vulnerability by attempting to access a database file outside the /db/ directory. For example, try accessing a database file located in the root directory (/) using the following path: ../../../../../../../../../../some_database.db. If WhoDB allows you to access this file, your system is vulnerable. You can learn more about path traversal vulnerability and how to prevent it.
3. Network Traffic Analysis: Monitor network traffic for suspicious attempts to access SQLite3 database files using path traversal techniques. Look for requests containing ../ sequences in the file path. Security logging and monitoring can help to identify those attempts.
4. Log Analysis: Examine application logs for any error messages or unusual activity related to database file access.
How to Fix the Vulnerability?
The primary remediation strategy is to upgrade to a patched version of WhoDB. Follow these steps to mitigate the vulnerability:
1. Upgrade WhoDB: Upgrade your WhoDB installation to version 0.45.0 or later. This version contains the necessary fix to prevent path traversal attacks. You can download the latest version from the official WhoDB repository or website.
2. Workarounds (If Upgrade is Not Immediately Possible): While upgrading is the recommended solution, consider these temporary measures if an immediate upgrade is not feasible:
Disable WhoDB: Temporarily disable WhoDB until the upgrade can be performed. This will prevent any potential exploitation of the vulnerability.
Implement Strict Input Validation (Difficult without Code Changes): If possible, implement strict input validation and sanitization for database file paths. Ensure that the application only accepts file paths that reside within the
/db/directory. However, this workaround requires modifying the application's source code and may not be practical for all users. Consider using these best practices for managing apps.Apply the Principle of Least Privilege: Limit WhoDB's access to only the necessary directories and files. This can help reduce the impact of a successful path traversal attack.
Regularly Audit and Monitor System Logs: Monitor system logs for any suspicious database access attempts. This can help detect and respond to potential attacks. You can use Splunk for monitoring system logs.
Important Considerations:
Monitor Official Channels: Stay informed about any security updates or patches related to this vulnerability by monitoring the official WhoDB channels.
Prioritize the Upgrade Process: The upgrade process should be prioritized to ensure that your systems are protected from potential exploitation.
No Known Workarounds: There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability other than upgrading, so prioritize the upgrade process. You may want to understand vulnerability assessments strategy.
By taking these steps, you can effectively mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-24786 and protect your WhoDB installations from potential path traversal attacks. Remember to always prioritize security updates and follow best practices to maintain a secure environment.
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Arun KL
Arun KL is a cybersecurity professional with 15+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, cloud security, vulnerability management, Penetration Testing, security operations, and incident response. He is adept at designing and implementing robust security solutions to safeguard systems and data. Arun holds multiple industry certifications including CCNA, CCNA Security, RHCE, CEH, and AWS Security.
