CVE-2001-1100 in W3Mail
Summary
by MITRE
sendmessage.cgi in W3Mail 1.0.2, and possibly other CGI programs, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in any field of the Compose Message page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-1100 represents a critical command injection flaw in the sendmessage.cgi script of W3Mail 1.0.2 web-based email system. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the CGI program's message composition functionality, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system commands without proper escaping or filtering. The flaw exists at the intersection of web application security and operating system command execution, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to the underlying system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user input fields within the Compose Message page of the W3Mail application. When users compose messages through the web interface, their input is processed by the sendmessage.cgi script which subsequently passes this data to system commands for processing. The absence of proper input sanitization means that attackers can inject shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks directly into any message field, enabling them to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the server hosting the vulnerable application. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category of Command Injection, specifically classified as CWE-78 which deals with OS Command Injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected system. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized data access, system compromise, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, modify system files, access sensitive information, or even use the compromised server as a launch point for further attacks against other systems. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or local credentials to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in internet-facing environments. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically focusing on the use of Unix shell commands for malicious purposes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1100 require immediate remediation through patching the vulnerable W3Mail software to version 1.0.3 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization and output encoding techniques to prevent shell metacharacter injection, utilizing parameterized commands where possible and avoiding direct concatenation of user input into system calls. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable applications, while regular security audits and penetration testing can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other legacy systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and highlights the risks associated with outdated software versions that may contain known security flaws. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious command execution patterns and unusual network traffic originating from vulnerable applications, ensuring that any exploitation attempts are quickly identified and responded to.