close ad
Databridge V2 with MySQLi support IS Now Available!
open ad
View Menu

Technical Support Forums

Free, outstanding support from WebAssist and your colleagues

Directory traversal attacks

Thread began 4/26/2022 1:59 am by Mags | Last modified 4/27/2022 12:10 pm by Mags | 136 views | 4 replies

Mags

Directory traversal attacks

Hi Ray, following my client's recent penetration test on their website I think I've now fixed all the vulnerabilities they picked up on, with your help which is much appreciated as always. I only have one outstanding item which I wondered if you could advise on? I use both ordinary download links to files and also download behaviors throughout the site. The pen tests have said this:

"It was possible to download arbitrary files from the web server by manipulating the file details being downloaded by the application. By utilising special characters to move through the directory tree of the web server it was possible to escape the directory being accessed to retrieve other files from the web server. Ensure that the application does not allow for special characters to be interpreted by the backend server when a user attempts to download files via the application."

They sent the attached screenshot to demonstrate. I think they're saying that download links have to be sanitised to remove special characters, however I'm not sure how I can do this and apply to existing download links/behaviors and for the links still to function properly. There's an article here: https://www.invicti.com/blog/web-security/directory-path-traversal-attacks/ but I'm not really any the wiser on how to fix this vulnerability. Can you help?

Build websites with a little help from your friends

Your friends over here at WebAssist! These Dreamweaver extensions will assist you in building unlimited, custom websites.

Build websites from already-built web applications

These out-of-the-box solutions provide you proven, tested applications that can be up and running now.  Build a store, a gallery, or a web-based email solution.

Want your website pre-built and hosted?

Close Windowclose

Rate your experience or provide feedback on this page

Account or customer service questions?
Please user our contact form.

Need technical support?
Please visit support to ask a question

Content

rating

Layout

rating

Ease of use

rating

security code refresh image

We do not respond to comments submitted from this page directly, but we do read and analyze any feedback and will use it to help make your experience better in the future.

Close Windowclose

We were unable to retrieve the attached file

Close Windowclose

Attach and remove files

add attachmentAdd attachment
Close Windowclose

Enter the URL you would like to link to in your post

Close Windowclose

This is how you use right click RTF editing

Enable right click RTF editing option allows you to add html markup into your tutorial such as images, bulleted lists, files and more...

-- click to close --

Uploading file...