CVE-2005-0116 in AWStats
Summary
by MITRE
AWStats 6.1, and other versions before 6.3, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the configdir parameter to aswtats.pl.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0116 affects AWStats version 6.1 and earlier, representing a critical command injection flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands on affected servers. This vulnerability resides within the web-based statistics collection tool commonly used for analyzing web server logs and generating detailed reports about website traffic patterns. The flaw specifically manifests in the handling of the configdir parameter within the aswtats.pl script, which processes user-supplied input without proper sanitization or validation. When an attacker supplies shell metacharacters as part of the configdir parameter, the application fails to properly escape or filter these characters, creating an environment where malicious commands can be interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in command execution contexts. This weakness allows attackers to inject shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks into the configdir parameter, effectively bypassing normal input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through HTTP requests that target the AWStats web interface, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no authentication and can be exploited from any remote location. The attack vector is classified as remote and unauthenticated, meaning that any user with access to the vulnerable web application can potentially exploit this flaw to gain arbitrary command execution privileges on the host system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected system. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, system compromise, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, modify system configurations, steal confidential information, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks against other network resources. The vulnerability also poses significant risk to web server integrity and availability, as attackers can potentially disrupt services or cause system instability through command execution. Organizations using AWStats versions prior to 6.3 face substantial risk of data breaches and system compromise, particularly if these systems are exposed to untrusted network traffic.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching and upgrading to AWStats version 6.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the command injection flaw. System administrators should also implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent similar issues in other applications. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block malicious requests targeting this vulnerability. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other software components. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing configurations and that proper access controls are maintained to prevent unauthorized modifications to the AWStats installation. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect suspicious command execution patterns and limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.