CVE-2001-0930 in Sendpage
Summary
by MITRE
Sendpage.pl allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a message containing shell metacharacters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0930 resides within the sendpage.pl script, a utility commonly employed for sending messages to remote systems. This particular flaw represents a classic command injection vulnerability that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability stems from the script's improper handling of user input, specifically when processing message content that contains shell metacharacters. When a remote attacker crafts a specially formatted message containing these metacharacters, the script fails to adequately sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into system commands, creating an exploitable condition.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software systems. This weakness allows attackers to inject operating system commands through input validation gaps, where user-supplied data is directly passed to system execution functions without proper sanitization. The attack vector involves sending a message through the sendpage.pl interface that contains shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, which are then interpreted by the underlying shell when the script processes the message. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of input validation and privilege separation, as the script executes with elevated privileges typically associated with system-level operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to systems utilizing the sendpage.pl script for message delivery. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute commands with the privileges of the user running the script, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple command execution to include potential data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and persistent access within the network. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal skill to exploit and can be automated through various attack frameworks, making it attractive to both automated scanners and sophisticated attackers. Systems that rely on this script for inter-system communication become vulnerable to unauthorized access and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0930 should focus on implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding techniques to prevent command injection attacks. Organizations should immediately patch or replace vulnerable sendpage.pl implementations with secure alternatives that properly validate and escape all user input before processing. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running the script with minimal necessary permissions, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in security architecture and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls that address both the immediate vulnerability and broader system security posture.