CVE-2004-1888 in Encore Web Forum
Summary
by MITRE
display.cgi in Aborior Encore WebForum allows remote to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the file variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1888 resides within the Aborior Encore WebForum software's display.cgi script, representing a critical remote code execution flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of the file variable parameter, where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before processing it within a shell context. The flaw manifests when maliciously crafted shell metacharacters are passed through the file parameter, allowing unauthorized individuals to inject and execute arbitrary shell commands on the web server hosting the vulnerable forum software.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in operating system commands, commonly known as command injection. The technical implementation of this flaw occurs because the display.cgi script concatenates user-supplied input directly into shell execution commands without adequate validation or sanitization. When an attacker submits malicious input containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, these characters are interpreted by the underlying shell and executed with the privileges of the web server process. The exploitation mechanism leverages the insecure programming practice of directly incorporating user-controllable data into system commands, creating an environment where attacker-controlled code can be executed with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected web server. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, extract confidential information, modify or delete system files, and use the compromised server as a launch point for further attacks against other systems. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the network or system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with publicly accessible web applications. This vulnerability also aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.001 for command and script interpreter and T1078 for valid accounts, as it allows attackers to execute commands with the privileges of the web server process and potentially escalate further.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1888 should focus on immediate patching of the vulnerable software, as the most effective solution involves applying the vendor-supplied security updates. Organizations should implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malicious characters from being processed by the system, including the use of allowlists to restrict acceptable input patterns and proper escaping of special shell characters. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense by detecting and blocking suspicious command injection patterns. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications, while system hardening practices including privilege separation and minimal required permissions for web server processes can reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege when developing web applications to prevent similar command injection flaws from occurring in the future.