Path Traversal in Symfony UX

Executive Summary

This vulnerability exists in Symfony UX, a JavaScript ecosystem for Symfony, specifically in the ux:install console command versions from 2.32.0 before 2.36.1 and from 3.0.0 before 3.2.0.

The command installs files from a recipe kit by copying paths listed in a copy-files map. However, because the Path::isRelative() function accepts paths like ../../../etc, a crafted or compromised recipe kit can exploit this to write attacker-controlled content to arbitrary locations or read local files outside the intended recipe directory.

This means an attacker can potentially manipulate the file system by reading or writing files outside the allowed scope during the installation process.

Useful 0 Not Useful 0

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can have serious impacts including unauthorized reading of sensitive local files and writing of malicious or attacker-controlled files to arbitrary locations on the system.

Such actions can lead to compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system.

Specifically, an attacker could use this to escalate privileges, implant malware, or exfiltrate sensitive data.

Useful 0 Not Useful 0

Mitigation Strategies

To mitigate this vulnerability, you should upgrade Symfony UX to version 2.36.1 or later if you are using the 2.x series, or to version 3.2.0 or later if you are using the 3.x series.

Avoid using the ux:install console command with untrusted or compromised recipe kits, as they may exploit the path traversal issue to write or read arbitrary files.

Useful 0 Not Useful 0

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability involves a path traversal issue in the Symfony UX Toolkit's recipe installer, specifically in the ux:install console command. Detection involves checking if your system is running affected versions of the symfony/ux package (>=2.32.0 <2.36.1 or >=3.0.0 <3.2.0) and if any recipe kits installed use malicious or crafted copy-files maps that include relative paths like ".." to escape intended directories.

To detect exploitation attempts or presence of malicious files, you can search your project or system for suspicious files or directories created outside the expected recipe directories, especially files placed via relative paths such as ../../../ or similar patterns.

Suggested commands to help detect potential exploitation or presence of malicious files include:

• Check the installed symfony/ux package version to confirm if it is vulnerable: `composer show symfony/ux`
• Search for suspicious relative paths in recipe files or copy-files maps, for example: `grep -r ".." path/to/recipes/`
• Find files created outside expected directories that might indicate path traversal exploitation, for example: `find /path/to/project -type f \( -path "*/../../../*" -o -name "PWNED" \)`
• Audit recent file changes or creations outside the recipe directory, for example: `find /path/to/project -mtime -7` to list files modified in the last 7 days.

Ultimately, upgrading to patched versions (>=2.36.1 or >=3.2.0) is the recommended mitigation.

Useful 0 Not Useful 0

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability allows an attacker to write or read arbitrary files on the system due to improper path validation in the Symfony UX ux:install command. Such unauthorized access and modification of files can lead to exposure or alteration of sensitive data.

Consequently, this could impact compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA, which require strict controls over data confidentiality, integrity, and access. Unauthorized file access or modification could result in breaches of personal or protected health information, leading to non-compliance with these standards.

Useful 0 Not Useful 0