CVE-2005-1560 in Nexusway
Summary
by MITRE
The SSH module in Neteyes Nexusway allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in arguments to certain commands, as demonstrated using ping and traceroute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1560 represents a critical command injection flaw within the SSH module of Neteyes Nexusway network monitoring software. This security weakness resides in how the system processes user input when executing network diagnostic commands such as ping and traceroute through the SSH interface. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter shell metacharacters from user-supplied arguments. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious input containing shell operators like semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that get interpreted by the underlying shell when executing network commands. The vulnerability specifically affects the SSH module's handling of arguments passed to network diagnostic utilities, creating a pathway for remote code execution without requiring authentication to the system itself.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common command injection patterns that have been extensively documented in security frameworks including CWE-77 and CWE-88. These weaknesses fall under the broader category of improper input validation where user-controllable data flows directly into shell execution contexts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a command injection technique under the execution phase, specifically mapping to T1059.004 which covers scripting and T1059.001 for command and script interpreters. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges since the attacker only needs to establish an SSH connection to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for network monitoring environments where SSH access is commonly granted to operational personnel. The flaw demonstrates poor security design principles where the system assumes all input is safe and does not implement proper input sanitization or parameterization techniques that would prevent shell interpretation of malicious characters.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1560 extends beyond simple command execution to potentially compromise entire network monitoring infrastructures. Network administrators who rely on Neteyes Nexusway for system monitoring may find their security posture severely weakened if attackers exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to network diagnostic capabilities. The ability to execute arbitrary commands through ping and traceroute operations allows attackers to escalate privileges, establish persistent backdoors, or conduct further reconnaissance within the network environment. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for security-sensitive environments where network monitoring systems serve as critical infrastructure components and where unauthorized access could lead to complete network compromise. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet, making traditional network perimeter defenses ineffective against this particular threat vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1560 should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the SSH module of Neteyes Nexusway. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied arguments are properly escaped or filtered before being passed to shell execution contexts, implementing a whitelist approach for valid command parameters rather than relying on blacklisting dangerous characters. The system should employ parameterized command execution where possible, avoiding direct shell invocation with user input. Security patches should be applied immediately if available from the vendor, as this vulnerability was identified in 2005 and likely has been addressed in subsequent releases. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit SSH access to trusted personnel only, while monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect suspicious command execution patterns. Additionally, implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify command injection attempts and establishing regular security assessments of network monitoring tools will help prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other components of the infrastructure.