CVE-2005-1550 in Easy Message Board
Summary
by MITRE
easymsgb.pl in Easy Message Board allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the print parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1550 affects the easymsgb.pl script within the Easy Message Board application, representing a critical command injection flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands on the affected server. This vulnerability specifically targets the print parameter handling within the perl script, where insufficient input validation allows malicious users to inject shell metacharacters that get interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system. The flaw exists in the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into system commands, creating a direct pathway for remote code execution attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the category of command injection as classified by CWE-77, where attacker-controlled data flows directly into shell commands without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to execute commands with the privileges of the web server process, which typically runs with elevated permissions on the target system. This means that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of backdoors and persistent access mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations running the Easy Message Board application, as it requires no special privileges or authentication to exploit. Attackers can simply craft malicious URLs containing shell metacharacters in the print parameter to trigger the vulnerability, making it highly accessible and potentially widespread. The impact extends beyond simple command execution, as attackers can leverage this primitive to perform reconnaissance, escalate privileges, establish persistent access, and conduct further exploitation activities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the perl interpreter and shell command execution capabilities.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly when dealing with system-level operations. Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including immediate patching of the vulnerable application, input validation mechanisms, and proper parameter sanitization. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit the attack surface, while regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other applications. The vulnerability also highlights the need for secure coding practices that prevent the direct inclusion of user input into system commands, emphasizing the importance of using safe APIs and proper escaping mechanisms to prevent such injection attacks from occurring in the first place.