CVE-2003-0205 in gkrellm-newsticker
Summary
by MITRE
gkrellm-newsticker gkrellm plugin before 0.3-3.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the ticker title of a URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0205 affects the gkrellm-newsticker plugin version 0.3-3.1 and earlier, representing a critical command injection flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of URI ticker titles within the gkrellm monitoring tool's news ticker plugin, where insufficient input validation allows maliciously crafted shell metacharacters to be interpreted and executed by the underlying system shell. The gkrellm tool is a popular system monitoring application that displays various system information including network activity, disk usage, and news feeds through its plugin architecture.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes a URI containing ticker title data that includes shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks. These characters are typically used in shell environments to separate commands or execute external programs, and when improperly sanitized, they allow attackers to inject and execute arbitrary shell commands on the target system. The flaw resides in the lack of proper input sanitization and shell escaping mechanisms within the plugin's URI processing logic, making it susceptible to malicious command injection attacks. This vulnerability maps to CWE-78, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in shell commands, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.004 for command and script injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running the gkrellm application, typically a local user account. An attacker could potentially escalate privileges, install malware, modify system files, or establish persistent access to the compromised system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where gkrellm is run with elevated privileges or where the application is accessible over network connections. The attack surface expands when considering that news ticker plugins often fetch data from remote sources, making it possible for attackers to craft malicious URIs that are automatically processed by the vulnerable plugin without user intervention.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching to version 0.3-3.1 or later, which contains proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to systems running vulnerable versions of gkrellm, particularly in environments where the application is exposed to untrusted network traffic. Additional protective measures include running the gkrellm application with minimal privileges, implementing input filtering at network boundaries, and monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in all components that process external data, particularly in applications that execute shell commands based on user-provided input. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training for system administrators to recognize and prevent the exploitation of such command injection vulnerabilities.