CVE-2026-1022: Gotac Statistics Database Path Traversal

CVE-2026-1022 Overview

The Statistics Database System developed by Gotac contains an Arbitrary File Read vulnerability that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit Relative Path Traversal to download arbitrary system files. This vulnerability is classified as CWE-23 (Relative Path Traversal) and enables attackers to bypass intended directory restrictions to access sensitive files on the underlying system.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit this path traversal flaw to read sensitive system files, potentially exposing configuration files, credentials, database contents, and other confidential information without any authentication requirements.

Affected Products

• Gotac Statistics Database System

Discovery Timeline

• January 16, 2026 - CVE-2026-1022 published to NVD
• January 16, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-1022

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper input validation in the Statistics Database System's file handling functionality. The application fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input containing path traversal sequences, allowing attackers to escape the intended directory structure and access arbitrary files on the system.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means attackers can exploit it remotely without requiring any prior authentication or user interaction. A successful exploit grants attackers the ability to read any file that the application's service account has permissions to access, which typically includes system configuration files, application source code, database connection strings, and potentially other sensitive data.

Root Cause

The root cause is CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal. The application accepts user input that specifies file paths but does not properly validate or sanitize this input to prevent directory traversal sequences such as ../ from escaping the intended directory boundaries. This allows attackers to construct malicious requests that reference files outside the application's designated file access scope.

Attack Vector

The attack is conducted over the network against the Statistics Database System. An unauthenticated attacker can craft HTTP requests containing relative path traversal sequences (e.g., ../../../etc/passwd on Linux or ..\..\..\windows\system.ini on Windows) to navigate out of the intended directory and access sensitive system files.

The vulnerability requires no authentication, no user interaction, and presents low attack complexity, making it readily exploitable by remote attackers. The primary impact is confidentiality breach through unauthorized disclosure of sensitive file contents.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-1022

Indicators of Compromise

• Web server access logs containing path traversal sequences such as ../, ..%2f, ..%5c, or URL-encoded variants
• Unusual file access patterns in application logs showing requests for system files outside the web root
• HTTP requests targeting configuration files like /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, web.config, or database configuration files
• Multiple sequential requests with varying traversal depths attempting to locate sensitive files

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block requests containing path traversal patterns
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common directory traversal attack patterns
• Enable detailed logging for file access operations within the Statistics Database System
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for unauthorized file read operations

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor web server logs for requests containing encoded or unencoded directory traversal sequences
• Set up alerts for access attempts to sensitive system files from web application processes
• Track failed file access attempts that may indicate traversal probing activity
• Review application logs for anomalous file path patterns or unexpected directory references

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-1022

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the Statistics Database System to trusted IP addresses only
• Implement a web application firewall with path traversal detection rules in front of the affected system
• Audit the system for evidence of prior exploitation by reviewing access logs for traversal patterns
• Contact Gotac for patch availability and apply any vendor-supplied security updates immediately

Patch Information

Organizations should consult the TW-CERT Security Advisory and TW-CERT Security Notice for official remediation guidance and patch information from the vendor.

Workarounds

• Deploy network segmentation to isolate the Statistics Database System from untrusted networks
• Configure reverse proxy or WAF rules to sanitize incoming requests and block path traversal sequences
• Implement strict input validation at the network perimeter to reject requests containing .. sequences
• Limit file system permissions for the application service account to only essential directories

# Example WAF rule to block common path traversal patterns
# Add to web server or reverse proxy configuration
# Block requests containing directory traversal sequences
SecRule REQUEST_URI|ARGS|ARGS_NAMES "@rx \.\.[\\/]" \
    "id:1001,phase:1,deny,status:403,msg:'Path Traversal Attempt Blocked'"