CVE-2003-1365 in CGI::Lite
Summary
by MITRE
The escape_dangerous_chars function in CGI::Lite 2.0 and earlier does not correctly remove special characters including (1) "\" (backslash), (2) "?", (3) "~" (tilde), (4) "^" (carat), (5) newline, or (6) carriage return, which could allow remote attackers to read or write arbitrary files, or execute arbitrary commands, in shell scripts that rely on CGI::Lite to filter such dangerous inputs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-1365 represents a critical input sanitization flaw within the CGI::Lite Perl module version 2.0 and earlier. This issue stems from an inadequate implementation of the escape_dangerous_chars function which fails to properly neutralize several special characters that are commonly exploited in injection attacks. The function's failure to handle backslash, question mark, tilde, carat, newline, and carriage return characters creates a significant security gap that can be leveraged by malicious actors to manipulate input processing within web applications.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of special characters that are typically considered dangerous in shell command contexts. When CGI::Lite processes user input through the flawed escape_dangerous_chars function, these characters remain unescaped and can be interpreted by the underlying shell environment. This creates opportunities for command injection attacks where attackers can append malicious commands to legitimate shell invocations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on the server. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects shell script operations that depend on CGI::Lite for input filtering, making it a critical weakness in web application security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple input validation failures and can result in complete system compromise. Attackers exploiting this flaw can perform file read operations to access sensitive data, execute arbitrary commands on the target system, and potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability is especially concerning in environments where CGI scripts are used for system administration tasks or process user input that gets passed directly to shell commands. This creates a direct pathway for attackers to escalate privileges and execute malicious payloads, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories from the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, which specifically address command injection vulnerabilities. The attack pattern follows typical command injection techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique for command and script injection. Organizations utilizing CGI::Lite should immediately upgrade to version 2.1 or later where the escape_dangerous_chars function has been properly implemented to handle all dangerous characters. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, employing secure coding practices, and conducting regular security assessments can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of the application stack.