CVE-2005-1966 in eTrace Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The eTrace_validaddr function in eTrace plugin for e107 portal allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters after a valid argument to the etrace_host parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2019
The CVE-2005-1966 vulnerability represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the eTrace plugin for the e107 content management system. This vulnerability specifically targets the eTrace_validaddr function which processes user input through the etrace_host parameter. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject shell metacharacters that can be executed within the server context. The vulnerability exists at the intersection of input validation and command execution, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on user input for system operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern of command injection attacks where attackers craft malicious input containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that get processed by the server's command execution functions. When the eTrace_validaddr function processes the etrace_host parameter without proper sanitization, these metacharacters are interpreted as shell commands rather than simple input data, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the web server process. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, which respectively cover improper neutralization of special elements used in a command and improper neutralization of script-related metacharacters.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes systems to complete compromise as attackers can execute commands with elevated privileges, potentially leading to data theft, system takeover, or further lateral movement within the network. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries use legitimate command-line interfaces to execute malicious commands. The attack surface extends beyond simple code execution to include potential privilege escalation opportunities and persistent access mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1966 should focus on immediate patching of the e107 platform and its plugins to address the input validation flaw. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization and output encoding techniques to prevent shell metacharacters from being interpreted as commands. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious patterns in the etrace_host parameter. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in system design, where applications should never trust user input and should always validate and sanitize all external data before processing. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual command execution patterns and unauthorized access attempts to the affected system components.