CVE-2005-0638 in xloadimage
Summary
by MITRE
xloadimage before 4.1-r2, and xli before 1.17, allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in filenames for compressed images, which are not properly quoted when calling the gunzip command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2025
This vulnerability exists in xloadimage versions prior to 4.1-r2 and xli versions prior to 1.17 where the applications fail to properly sanitize filenames containing shell metacharacters before executing system commands. The flaw specifically occurs when these image viewers process compressed image files such as those compressed with gzip, as they invoke the gunzip command without adequate quoting or sanitization of the filename parameter. This creates a classic command injection vulnerability where maliciously crafted filenames can contain shell metacharacters that get interpreted by the underlying shell when the gunzip command is executed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the improper handling of user-supplied input within shell command construction. When an attacker provides an image filename containing special shell characters such as semicolons, pipes, or backticks, these characters are not properly escaped or quoted before being passed to the gunzip command execution. This allows the attacker to inject additional shell commands that execute with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-78 as "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command" and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices for command execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable versions of xloadimage or xli. Since these applications are commonly used for image viewing and may be executed in environments where users can upload or select image files, an attacker could potentially compromise systems by crafting malicious image filenames. The vulnerability affects both local and remote exploitation scenarios where an attacker can influence the filename parameter through various attack vectors including web uploads, file sharing, or direct user input manipulation. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments or when these applications are used in automated systems.
The attack surface for this vulnerability includes any system running the vulnerable versions of xloadimage or xli, particularly those used in web applications, file sharing systems, or automated image processing pipelines. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a command injection technique under the T1059.001 sub-technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1059.003 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell" when considering the broader implications of shell command injection. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of these applications, implement proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied filenames, and consider implementing additional security controls such as sandboxing or restricted execution environments for image viewing applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and proper input handling to prevent such command injection scenarios.