CVE-2006-0845 in Web Blog
Summary
by MITRE
Leif M. Wright s Blog 3.5 allows remote authenticated users with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary programs, including shell commands, by configuring the sendmail path to a malicious pathname.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2024
This vulnerability exists in Leif M. Wright s Blog version 3.5 and represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that allows authenticated administrative users to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The vulnerability stems from insecure input validation within the application's mail configuration functionality, specifically when setting the sendmail path parameter. When administrators configure the sendmail path through the web interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the input, creating an arbitrary code execution vector that can be exploited by malicious actors with administrative access. The flaw operates at the application level and demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental security principles.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the trust placed in administrative users and the lack of proper path validation in the sendmail configuration settings. When an attacker with administrative privileges modifies the sendmail path to point to a malicious executable or script, the application executes this path without proper verification, effectively allowing command injection attacks. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-78 which specifically addresses OS Command Injection, and represents a classic example of how insecure parameter handling can lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only administrative access rather than elevated privileges, making it accessible to users who already possess legitimate administrative rights within the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with full control over the underlying system where the blog application resides. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, escalate privileges further, or use the compromised system as a pivot point for attacking other network resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-tenant environments where multiple administrative users may have access to the system, as it could enable lateral movement and persistent access. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, demonstrating how a single flaw can enable multiple attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected application to version 3.6 or later, which addresses the insecure input handling in the sendmail configuration. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those related to system paths and executable locations. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting administrative access to only those users who require it, and implementing additional monitoring for changes to critical system configurations. Security controls should include validating that sendmail paths point to legitimate system locations and implementing proper access controls around configuration modification. Regular security audits should verify that no unauthorized modifications have occurred, and network monitoring should detect unusual command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in preventing such critical flaws from being introduced into web applications.