CVE-2026-7024: Rawchen SIMS Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2026-7024 Overview

A path traversal vulnerability has been identified in the rawchen sims application, specifically affecting the DeleteFileServlet endpoint. The flaw exists in the file sims-master/src/web/servlet/file/DeleteFileServlet.java where improper handling of the filename parameter allows attackers to traverse directory structures and potentially delete or manipulate files outside the intended directory scope. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by authenticated users through manipulation of the filename argument.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low privileges can exploit the path traversal vulnerability to potentially delete arbitrary files on the server, leading to integrity and availability impacts.

Affected Products

rawchen sims up to commit 004f783b1db5ecdfad81c8fdc3b34171211112de
DeleteFileServlet component in sims-master application

Discovery Timeline

2026-04-26 - CVE CVE-2026-7024 published to NVD
2026-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-7024

Vulnerability Analysis

This path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) occurs due to insufficient input validation in the DeleteFileServlet endpoint. When processing file deletion requests, the servlet fails to properly sanitize the filename parameter, allowing attackers to include directory traversal sequences such as ../ to escape the intended file storage directory. This enables unauthorized file operations on arbitrary locations within the file system that the application has access to.

The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the system, as attackers could potentially delete critical application files or configuration data. The product does not use formal versioning, making it difficult to track affected and patched releases. The vendor was contacted about this disclosure but did not respond.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input validation in the DeleteFileServlet.java file. The servlet accepts user-supplied filename values without adequate sanitization to prevent directory traversal sequences. This violates the principle of defense in depth by trusting user input to specify file paths without restricting access to the intended directory scope.

Attack Vector

The attack can be launched remotely over the network by an authenticated user. An attacker would send a crafted HTTP request to the deleteFileServlet endpoint with a manipulated filename parameter containing path traversal sequences (e.g., ../../sensitive_file.txt). This allows the attacker to reference and potentially delete files outside the designated upload or storage directory.

The vulnerability requires low privileges to exploit and no user interaction. An exploit has been published and may be used. Additional technical details can be found in the GitHub Issue Discussion and the VulDB Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-7024

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /deleteFileServlet or similar endpoints containing ../ or encoded traversal sequences (%2e%2e%2f) in the filename parameter
Unexpected file deletion events outside designated upload directories
Web application logs showing requests with unusual filename patterns targeting system or configuration files
Access attempts to sensitive files such as /etc/passwd, application configuration files, or database files

Detection Strategies

Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in request parameters
Monitor application logs for requests to file deletion endpoints containing directory traversal sequences
Configure file integrity monitoring (FIM) on critical system and application directories to detect unauthorized deletions
Review access logs for authenticated users making repeated requests to file manipulation endpoints with varying filename patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable detailed logging for all file operation servlets including the full request parameters
Set up alerts for any file deletion attempts outside of designated upload directories
Monitor for encoding bypass attempts using URL encoding, double encoding, or unicode representations of traversal sequences
Implement anomaly detection for users attempting multiple file operations in rapid succession

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-7024

Immediate Actions Required

Review and audit all code paths in DeleteFileServlet.java that handle the filename parameter
Implement strict input validation to reject any filename containing path traversal sequences
Apply principle of least privilege to the application's file system permissions
Consider temporarily disabling the file deletion functionality until a proper fix is implemented

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no official patch is available from the vendor. The vendor was contacted about this disclosure but did not respond. Organizations using rawchen sims should implement the workarounds described below and monitor the VulDB Vulnerability Report for updates. Since the product does not use versioning, users should check the source repository for any commits addressing this issue after commit 004f783b1db5ecdfad81c8fdc3b34171211112de.

Workarounds

Implement a whitelist approach that only allows alphanumeric characters and specific safe characters in filename parameters
Use canonicalization to resolve the absolute path of requested files and verify they remain within the allowed directory
Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with rules to block common path traversal patterns
Restrict network access to the affected endpoint to trusted IP addresses only
Consider deploying the application in a sandboxed environment with minimal file system permissions

bash

# Example WAF rule to block path traversal (ModSecurity format)
SecRule ARGS:filename "@rx \.\./" "id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'Path traversal attempt blocked'"
SecRule ARGS:filename "@rx %2e%2e%2f" "id:1002,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'Encoded path traversal blocked'"