CVE-2021-47849: Mini Mouse Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2021-47849 Overview

Mini Mouse 9.3.0 contains a path traversal vulnerability that allows attackers to access sensitive system directories through the device information endpoint. Attackers can retrieve file lists from system directories like /usr, /etc, and /var by manipulating file path parameters in API requests. This vulnerability (CWE-22) enables unauthorized access to sensitive system information through improperly validated user input.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit this path traversal flaw to enumerate and access sensitive system directories, potentially exposing configuration files, credentials, and other sensitive data stored on the host system.

Affected Products

• Mini Mouse version 9.3.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-21 - CVE CVE-2021-47849 published to NVD
• 2026-01-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2021-47849

Vulnerability Analysis

This path traversal vulnerability exists in the Mini Mouse remote control application's device information endpoint. The application fails to properly sanitize file path parameters in API requests, allowing attackers to traverse outside of intended directories using sequences like ../. This design flaw enables remote attackers to access arbitrary system directories without authentication.

The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring any user interaction or prior authentication. An attacker can craft malicious requests containing path traversal sequences to enumerate directory contents across critical system paths including /etc (system configuration), /usr (user programs), and /var (variable data files).

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input validation (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) in the file path handling logic. The application does not adequately validate or sanitize user-supplied input before using it to construct file system paths, allowing directory traversal sequences to escape the intended directory scope.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no authentication or user interaction. An attacker sends specially crafted HTTP requests to the device information endpoint with manipulated path parameters containing traversal sequences (e.g., ../../../etc/). The server processes these requests without proper validation and returns directory listings from arbitrary system locations.

For detailed technical exploitation information, refer to the Exploit-DB entry #49747 and the VulnCheck Local File Inclusion Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2021-47849

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to the Mini Mouse application containing path traversal sequences (../, ..%2f, ..%5c)
• Unusual access patterns targeting the device information endpoint with manipulated path parameters
• Server responses containing sensitive system directory listings (e.g., /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow)

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic for HTTP requests containing encoded or unencoded path traversal characters targeting Mini Mouse services
• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block requests with directory traversal patterns
• Review application logs for access attempts to system directories outside the application's intended scope

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on systems running Mini Mouse to capture all API requests
• Set up alerts for requests containing common traversal patterns (../, ..\, URL-encoded variants)
• Monitor file system access for unusual reads of system configuration directories by the Mini Mouse process

How to Mitigate CVE-2021-47849

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the Mini Mouse application to trusted networks only
• Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of systems running the vulnerable application
• Consider disabling the Mini Mouse service until a patch is available or alternative mitigation is implemented

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is currently available for this vulnerability. Users should monitor the Apple App Store listing for application updates that address this security issue.

Workarounds

• Deploy a reverse proxy or web application firewall (WAF) in front of the Mini Mouse service to filter malicious requests
• Restrict network access to the Mini Mouse application using firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted IP addresses only
• Consider using VPN or network isolation to prevent untrusted network access to systems running Mini Mouse