CVE-2000-0424 in CGI Counter
Summary
by MITRE
The CGI counter 4.0.7 by George Burgyan allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0424 represents a critical security flaw in CGI counter software version 4.0.7 developed by George Burgyan. This issue stems from inadequate input validation within the counter script that fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability exists in the way the application handles counter increment requests, where it directly incorporates user-provided parameters into system commands without proper filtering or escaping mechanisms. This design flaw creates an environment where malicious actors can inject shell metacharacters into the counter parameters, effectively allowing arbitrary command execution on the underlying system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software applications. When an attacker submits malicious input containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, the counter script processes these characters as part of the command execution pipeline rather than as literal input. This occurs because the application does not properly escape or quote user-supplied parameters before passing them to system commands, creating a direct path for code injection attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the system level, allowing attackers to execute commands with the privileges of the web server process, which typically runs with elevated permissions.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to affected systems as it enables remote code execution without requiring authentication or specific user privileges. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain complete control over the compromised server, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or use as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise as attackers can use the executed commands to establish persistent access, install backdoors, or escalate privileges to gain root or administrator access. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which covers command and scripting interpreter execution, and T1068, which addresses local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0424 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that prevent shell metacharacters from being processed as command instructions. This includes escaping special characters, using parameterized queries, or implementing proper command execution frameworks that do not directly incorporate user input into shell commands. Organizations should also consider upgrading to patched versions of the CGI counter software, as this vulnerability was likely addressed in subsequent releases. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional monitoring capabilities to detect and block exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other applications within the system infrastructure, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security design weaknesses that require comprehensive remediation efforts.