CVE-2001-0756 in Virtualcatalog
Summary
by MITRE
CatalogMgr.pl in VirtualCatalog (incorrectly claimed to be in VirtualCart) allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the template parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0756 resides within the CatalogMgr.pl component of VirtualCatalog software, which was mistakenly attributed to VirtualCart in initial reporting. This flaw represents a critical remote code execution vulnerability that enables attackers to gain unauthorized system access and execute malicious commands on the affected server. The vulnerability specifically targets the template parameter handling mechanism within the perl script, creating an avenue for attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code remotely without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation within the CatalogMgr.pl script. When the template parameter is processed, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input, allowing attackers to inject malicious code that gets executed within the context of the web server process. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of insecure input handling and code injection flaws, which are systematically catalogued under CWE-94 - Improper Control of Generation of Code and CWE-74 - Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation, where insufficient validation of user-provided data leads to execution of unintended code.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to organizations utilizing VirtualCatalog software, as it allows complete system compromise without any authentication requirements. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, steal sensitive data, modify system configurations, or use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can target vulnerable systems from anywhere on the internet, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for web-facing applications. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise to include potential data breaches, service disruption, and regulatory compliance violations that organizations may face due to unauthorized access to their systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0756 should prioritize immediate patching of the VirtualCatalog software to address the input validation flaw in CatalogMgr.pl. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable application and deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests targeting the template parameter. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened through proper sanitization of all user-provided data, and the principle of least privilege should be enforced to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual patterns in template parameter usage and anomalous code execution attempts. The vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls that address both the initial exploitation vector and potential post-compromise activities. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other applications that may be susceptible to similar input validation flaws and implement robust security testing procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future software development cycles.