CVE-2001-0232 in News Desk
Summary
by MITRE
newsdesk.cgi in News Desk 1.2 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via shell metacharacters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0232 affects the newsdesk.cgi script within News Desk 1.2, a web-based news management system that was prevalent in the early 2000s. This flaw represents a classic example of insecure input handling and improper validation of user-supplied data, which falls under the CWE-77 category of command injection vulnerabilities. The vulnerability exists in the way the application processes user input through the newsdesk.cgi script, specifically when handling file operations that should be restricted to authorized users only.
The technical flaw manifests when the newsdesk.cgi script fails to properly sanitize or validate input parameters that are intended to specify file paths or names for reading operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting shell metacharacters such as semicolons, pipes, or other command chaining operators directly into the input fields. These metacharacters allow the attacker to execute arbitrary shell commands on the underlying operating system, effectively bypassing the intended file reading functionality and gaining unauthorized access to the file system. The vulnerability directly enables path traversal attacks and command injection, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user input without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides remote attackers with the capability to read arbitrary files from the server's file system, potentially exposing sensitive information such as configuration files, database credentials, user data, or system files. This type of vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise, especially if the web application runs with elevated privileges or if the attacker can access critical system files. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the system, as unauthorized data access and potential modification of system files can occur. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as attackers may be able to escalate privileges or establish persistent access through the exploitation of this command injection vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0232 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization techniques to prevent shell metacharacter injection. The most effective approach involves using parameterized queries or input filtering that removes or encodes dangerous characters before processing user input. Organizations should implement proper access controls and file permission settings to limit the damage that can be caused by such vulnerabilities. Additionally, the application should be updated to a newer version of News Desk that addresses this specific vulnerability, as the original version is outdated and likely contains multiple other security flaws. Security practitioners should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious patterns of exploitation attempts, aligning with the mitigation strategies recommended in the ATT&CK framework for command and control activities and privilege escalation techniques.