CVE-2004-1456 in Cvstrac
Summary
by MITRE
filediff in CVStrac allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in rcsinfo.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1456 resides within the CVStrac application's filediff component, specifically in how it processes the rcsinfo parameter. This represents a classic command injection flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands on the affected server. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's processing pipeline, where user-supplied data flows directly into shell execution contexts without proper escaping or filtering mechanisms.
This security weakness operates through the exploitation of shell metacharacters embedded within the rcsinfo parameter value. When CVStrac processes file differences and encounters malicious input containing special shell characters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, these characters are interpreted by the underlying shell as command separators or operators rather than literal text. The application's failure to properly sanitize this input creates an execution path where attacker-controlled commands can be injected and subsequently executed with the privileges of the web server process. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category of Command Injection, which is classified as a critical weakness in software security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it allows attackers to gain full control over the affected system. An attacker could execute commands such as system information gathering, file manipulation, network reconnaissance, or even establish persistent access through backdoor installation. The vulnerability affects systems running CVStrac versions prior to the patch release, making it particularly dangerous in environments where legacy applications remain unpatched. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require local system access, making it an attractive target for widespread compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. The primary solution involves applying the vendor-provided patch or upgrading to a patched version of CVStrac that implements proper input validation and sanitization. Additionally, implementing proper parameter escaping and input filtering mechanisms within the application code is essential to prevent shell metacharacter interpretation. Network-level defenses such as web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring for suspicious command injection patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices including input validation, output encoding, and principle of least privilege execution to prevent similar issues in other applications. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their legacy systems to identify and remediate similar command injection vulnerabilities across their infrastructure.