CVE-2004-1710 in Page CGI
Summary
by MITRE
page.cgi allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1710 represents a critical command injection flaw in the page.cgi script that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands on the affected server. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of the url parameter within the page.cgi application, which processes user input without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw exists in the web application's input processing logic where shell metacharacters are directly incorporated into system commands without adequate filtering or escaping, creating a pathway for malicious command execution.
This security weakness falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-78, which specifically addresses Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic command injection vulnerability where attacker-controlled input is concatenated directly into shell commands, allowing for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the web server process. The attack vector involves sending specially crafted URLs containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks to the vulnerable page.cgi script, which then executes these commands on the underlying operating system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, data theft, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute system commands such as file operations, network reconnaissance, process management, and even establish persistent backdoors on the compromised system. The vulnerability affects systems where page.cgi is deployed, which typically includes web-based content management systems or applications that utilize CGI scripts for page rendering and content delivery. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in system command execution contexts. The recommended approach involves proper escaping or encoding of shell metacharacters, implementing whitelisting mechanisms for acceptable input values, and using secure API calls instead of direct shell command execution. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input filtering rules can provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of system commands through web interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing proper access controls, regular security assessments, and maintaining up-to-date patches to prevent exploitation of similar command injection vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their web infrastructure.