Wapples Web Application Firewall Local File Inclusion Scanner

Wapples Web Application Firewall is a component of a cybersecurity suite developed by Penta Security, primarily utilized by businesses looking to protect web applications from various external threats. The firewall is typically deployed by network administrators in enterprise environments to safeguard sensitive data and maintain the integrity of web services. Its purpose is to act as a barrier against cyber threats such as SQL injection, XSS, and other common attacks rampant in the cyber landscape. Wapples employs rules and heuristics to discern between legitimate and malicious web traffic. This solution helps businesses comply with cybersecurity regulations and enforce policies effectively across their web-based services. It supports various web servers and integrates into existing infrastructure with the aim of minimizing downtime.

Local File Inclusion (LFI) is a web-based security vulnerability that allows an attacker to include files on a server through the web browser. This vulnerability is exploited by manipulating the parameters that reference files on the web server, leading to unauthorized access. Attackers commonly target LFI vulnerabilities to view sensitive files, manipulate application settings, or obtain access that can facilitate further penetration into the application. When exploited, LFI can critically compromise the security posture of an application, leading to data breaches. Addressing this vulnerability is pivotal to ensuring that web applications remain secure from unauthorized file access and potential data leaks.

The vulnerability is identified in the Wapples Web Application Firewall by targeting a specific endpoint that accepts file paths as a parameter. Technical details reveal that the vulnerable parameter is aggravated by failing to validate input paths, allowing traversal and unintended file access on the server. The identified vulnerable endpoint "/webapi/file/transfer" is exploited by tricking the application into processing file paths with relative directories, effectively bypassing security controls. The regex pattern "root:[x*]:0:0" confirms the presence of this vulnerability by detecting common UNIX system files. Secure coding practices like input filtering and sanitization are pivotal to mitigating this risk.

Exploitation of a Local File Inclusion vulnerability can have several detrimental effects. If attackers gain unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files, they might acquire credentials or information to further exploit an application. LFI may lead to the unintended disclosure of database credentials or other critical information stored within accessible files. Attackers can use extracted data to perform privilege escalation or lateral movement within a web application. Moreover, LFI vulnerabilities can serve as a precursor to further attacks, like Remote Code Execution (RCE), if combined with file upload capabilities. The organization may suffer reputational damage and financial loss due to data breaches precipitated by exploiting such a vulnerability.

REFERENCES

• https://medium.com/@_sadshade/wapples-web-application-firewall-multiple-vulnerabilities-35bdee52c8fb