CVE-2005-2178 in probe.cgi
Summary
by MITRE
probe.cgi allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the olddat parameter. NOTE: it is unclear which product or vendor this program is associated with, if any.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2178 represents a critical command injection flaw in a CGI script named probe.cgi that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands through the manipulation of the olddat parameter. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-77 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in a command shell, making it a direct descendant of the broader class of command injection vulnerabilities. The flaw exists in the manner in which user input is processed and incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization or validation, creating an avenue for malicious actors to escalate their privileges and potentially gain complete control over the affected system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the insecure handling of user-supplied data within the probe.cgi script. When the olddat parameter is passed to the script, it is likely concatenated directly into a shell command without adequate filtering or escaping of special shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, pipes, or backticks. This allows attackers to inject malicious commands that will be executed with the privileges of the web server process, which typically runs with elevated permissions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require authentication or any specific user interaction beyond accessing the vulnerable web application, making it a classic example of a remote code execution vulnerability that aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform reconnaissance, establish persistence mechanisms, and potentially pivot to other systems within the network. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive data, modify system configurations, install backdoors, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks. The lack of clear vendor identification in the CVE description suggests this may have been an older vulnerability that was not properly tracked or may have affected multiple products from different vendors, which complicates the identification of affected systems and the implementation of appropriate mitigations. Organizations that have legacy systems or applications that have not been properly maintained may be particularly vulnerable to exploitation of this type of flaw.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2178 should focus on immediate remediation through input validation and output encoding to prevent the injection of shell metacharacters. The most effective approach involves implementing proper parameter sanitization techniques that filter out or escape special characters before they can be processed by the system shell. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious command injection patterns, as well as conducting thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected applications within their infrastructure. The remediation process should include updating or replacing the vulnerable probe.cgi script with a secure version that properly validates and sanitizes all user inputs, and implementing principle of least privilege for web server processes to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles, aligning with the security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.