CVE-2005-1299 in inserter.cgi
Summary
by MITRE
The inserter.cgi script allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2015
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1299 resides within the inserter.cgi script, which represents a classic command injection flaw that has plagued web applications for decades. This issue manifests when the script fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into system commands, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized operations on the underlying system. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of arguments passed to the script, where shell metacharacters can be exploited to manipulate command execution flow. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category, which encompasses improper neutralization of special elements used in commands, and more specifically maps to CWE-94 which deals with the execution of code with elevated privileges. The attack vector leverages the fundamental weakness of insufficient input validation and sanitization, allowing remote threat actors to inject malicious commands that get interpreted and executed by the system shell.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious input string containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that are then passed directly to the inserter.cgi script. When the script processes this input without proper sanitization, these metacharacters are interpreted by the shell as command separators or operators, effectively allowing the attacker to chain multiple commands or execute entirely different operations than intended. The impact extends beyond simple command execution to potentially provide attackers with full system control, depending on the privileges of the web application process. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which covers command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on the use of shell commands for exploitation. The remote nature of the attack means that no local system access is required, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications that process user input.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1299 can be severe and far-reaching, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources, extract confidential data, modify system configurations, or even establish persistent backdoors. Depending on the system architecture and privileges of the web application, successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, or service disruption. Organizations running affected systems face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where the inserter.cgi script is used for legitimate purposes such as file management, system monitoring, or automated processes. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple systems and applications highlights the widespread nature of command injection flaws, making it a critical priority for remediation. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader application security assessments, particularly when evaluating web applications that interact with system-level processes or execute external commands based on user input. The remediation approach requires implementing proper input validation, output encoding, and privilege separation to prevent unauthorized command execution, while also adhering to security best practices outlined in standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework.