CVE-2004-1165 in KDELibs
Summary
by MITRE
Konqueror 3.3.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary FTP commands via an ftp:// URL that contains a URL-encoded newline ("%0a") before the FTP command, which causes the commands to be inserted into the resulting FTP session, as demonstrated using a PORT command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
This vulnerability resides in Konqueror version 3.3.1, a web browser that was part of the KDE desktop environment and supported various protocols including FTP. The flaw represents a classic input validation issue that allows attackers to inject malicious commands into FTP sessions through carefully crafted URLs. The vulnerability specifically targets the URL parsing mechanism within Konqueror's FTP handling code, where the application fails to properly sanitize URL-encoded characters before establishing FTP connections.
The technical exploitation involves crafting an ftp:// URL that contains a URL-encoded newline character "%0a" positioned before an FTP command such as PORT. When Konqueror processes this malformed URL, it fails to properly decode and validate the URL components, allowing the encoded newline to be interpreted as a command separator. This creates a situation where the attacker can inject arbitrary FTP commands directly into the FTP session that Konqueror establishes, bypassing normal command validation and execution controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote code execution within the context of the FTP session, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate FTP servers, access unauthorized files, or perform other malicious activities. The vulnerability specifically demonstrates the use of the PORT command, which is a standard FTP command used to specify the data connection port, but when injected through this mechanism, it can be used to control the FTP session behavior. This represents a command injection vulnerability that can be leveraged for various malicious purposes including data exfiltration, server compromise, or unauthorized access to FTP resources.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-74, which describes improper neutralization of special elements in output used by a downstream component, and also relates to CWE-94, which covers the execution of arbitrary code due to improper input validation. The attack pattern follows ATT&CK technique T1190, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in software to execute malicious code, specifically through protocol manipulation. The vulnerability demonstrates how web browsers can become attack vectors when they fail to properly validate and sanitize URLs that contain encoded characters, particularly those that can be interpreted as command separators.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of Konqueror to a version that properly validates and sanitizes URL components, particularly URL-encoded characters. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as firewalls that can block suspicious FTP traffic patterns, and consider disabling FTP protocol support in web browsers when it is not essential for business operations. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites that may contain malicious FTP URLs, and security monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual FTP command patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation in protocol handling components and demonstrates how seemingly benign URL encoding can become a security risk when not properly handled.