CVE-2005-0362 in AWStats
Summary
by MITRE
awstats.pl in AWStats 6.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the (1) "pluginmode", (2) "loadplugin", or (3) "noloadplugin" parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0362 affects AWStats version 6.2, specifically targeting the awstats.pl script which serves as the core component for web log analysis and reporting. This critical security flaw resides in the input validation mechanisms of the application's parameter processing logic, where the software fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into system commands. The vulnerability manifests through three distinct parameter vectors including pluginmode, loadplugin, and noloadplugin, all of which are susceptible to command injection attacks due to insufficient input filtering and escaping.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malicious payloads containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks within the affected parameters. These metacharacters are interpreted by the underlying shell as command separators or operators, allowing attackers to append arbitrary commands to the legitimate system calls. The flaw represents a classic command injection vulnerability that maps to CWE-77, which specifically addresses the execution of arbitrary commands through improper input validation. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, the web server process executes the injected commands with the privileges of the web application, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, privilege escalation, and persistence establishment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information, modify or delete files, install backdoors, or even use the compromised server as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where AWStats is deployed with elevated privileges or where the web server process has access to sensitive data repositories, as it can facilitate information disclosure and unauthorized data manipulation. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1078 for valid accounts, as attackers can leverage legitimate system access to execute malicious commands.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including immediate patching of AWStats to versions that address this vulnerability, implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. The recommended remediation approach involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper escaping and validation, implementing principle of least privilege for web application processes, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in preventing command injection attacks, particularly in applications that process user-supplied data for system operations.