CVE-2019-25351: Centova Cast File Download Vulnerability

CVE-2019-25351 Overview

CVE-2019-25351 is an arbitrary file download vulnerability affecting Centova Cast 3.2.11, a popular streaming server control panel. The vulnerability exists in the server.copyfile API endpoint, which fails to properly validate file path parameters. Authenticated attackers can exploit this flaw to retrieve arbitrary system files, including sensitive configuration files and credentials, through crafted HTTP requests using tools like curl and wget.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can download sensitive system files such as /etc/passwd, potentially exposing user credentials and system configuration data that could facilitate further attacks.

Affected Products

• Centova Cast 3.2.11

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-18 - CVE-2019-25351 published to NVD
• 2026-02-19 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25351

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization), indicating that the server.copyfile API endpoint lacks proper authorization checks when processing file download requests. The endpoint accepts user-controlled parameters that specify which file to retrieve without adequately validating whether the authenticated user should have access to the requested resource.

The attack requires network access and low privileges (authenticated user), but once those conditions are met, exploitation is straightforward with no user interaction required. The impact is limited to confidentiality—attackers can read sensitive files but cannot modify or delete them.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2019-25351 lies in the missing authorization checks within the server.copyfile API endpoint. The application fails to implement proper access control mechanisms that would restrict file access to legitimate paths within the application's intended scope. Without path validation or authorization enforcement, the endpoint blindly processes file path parameters, allowing attackers to traverse the filesystem and access any file readable by the web server process.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed over the network by an authenticated user making specially crafted requests to the vulnerable server.copyfile endpoint. The attacker supplies malicious parameters that reference sensitive system files outside the application's intended directory structure.

An authenticated attacker can abuse the server.copyfile API by sending requests with crafted file path parameters pointing to sensitive system files. Using standard HTTP clients like curl or wget, the attacker makes requests to the Centova Cast API endpoint with parameters specifying files such as /etc/passwd or application configuration files. The server processes these requests without proper authorization checks, returning the contents of the requested files to the attacker. For technical details and proof-of-concept information, refer to the Exploit-DB #47669 entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25351

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual API calls to the server.copyfile endpoint with file paths referencing system directories like /etc/ or application configuration paths
• Web server access logs showing requests to the server.copyfile API with path traversal sequences or references to sensitive files
• Anomalous file access patterns from the Centova Cast web server process attempting to read files outside its normal operating scope

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web application logs for requests to the server.copyfile endpoint containing suspicious file paths or path traversal patterns
• Implement file integrity monitoring on sensitive system files to detect unauthorized access attempts
• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) with rules to detect and block path traversal and arbitrary file access patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all API endpoint access within Centova Cast
• Configure SIEM alerts for patterns matching file download requests targeting system paths like /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, or application configuration files
• Review authentication logs for accounts making repeated or suspicious API calls to file-related endpoints

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25351

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to Centova Cast administrative interfaces to trusted IP addresses only
• Review and audit user accounts with access to the Centova Cast control panel, removing unnecessary privileges
• Implement additional authentication layers such as VPN requirements for administrative access
• Monitor logs for any exploitation attempts targeting the server.copyfile endpoint

Patch Information

Review the VulnCheck Advisory for Centova and the Centova Official Website for the latest security updates and patched versions. Upgrade to a patched version of Centova Cast as soon as one becomes available from the vendor.

Workarounds

• Implement network segmentation to isolate Centova Cast servers from sensitive internal resources
• Use a reverse proxy or web application firewall to filter requests to the server.copyfile endpoint
• Restrict file system permissions for the web server user account to limit readable files
• Disable or restrict access to the server.copyfile API endpoint if it is not required for normal operations

If direct patching is not immediately possible, apply network-level access controls to limit who can reach the Centova Cast API endpoints:

# Example iptables rules to restrict access to Centova Cast
# Allow only trusted management IPs to access the control panel
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 2199 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 2199 -j DROP