Attack Chain

1. The attacker identifies a vulnerable instance of WilliamCloudQi matlab-mcp-server running a version up to ab88f6b9bf5f36f725e8628029f7f6dd0d9913ca.
2. The attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request targeting the generate_matlab_code or execute_matlab_code function.
3. The malicious request includes a manipulated scriptPath argument containing path traversal sequences (e.g., ../, ..%2f).
4. The server-side code, without proper validation, uses the attacker-controlled scriptPath to access a file.
5. The attacker uses the path traversal to navigate to a sensitive file outside the intended directory (e.g., /etc/passwd).
6. The server reads the contents of the arbitrary file due to the path traversal.
7. The server includes the contents of the sensitive file in the response sent back to the attacker.
8. The attacker retrieves the sensitive information from the server’s response, such as configuration files, credentials, or source code.

Impact

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability allows a remote attacker to read arbitrary files on the server. This can lead to the disclosure of sensitive information, including configuration files, credentials, source code, or other data stored on the server’s file system. This information can then be used for further attacks, such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The number of potential victims is unknown, but any system running a vulnerable version of matlab-mcp-server is at risk.

Recommendation

• Apply appropriate input validation and sanitization to the scriptPath argument in the generate_matlab_code and execute_matlab_code functions to prevent path traversal attacks.
• Deploy the Sigma rules provided in this brief to your SIEM to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.
• Monitor web server logs for suspicious requests containing path traversal sequences (e.g., ../, ..%2f) in the scriptPath parameter.