CVE-2006-5872 in SQL-Ledger
Summary
by MITRE
login.pl in SQL-Ledger before 2.6.21 and LedgerSMB before 1.1.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Perl code via the "-e" flag in the script parameter, which is used as an argument to the perl program.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5872 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in web-based accounting software systems. This vulnerability affects SQL-Ledger versions prior to 2.6.21 and LedgerSMB versions prior to 1.1.5, where the login.pl script fails to properly sanitize user input before passing it to the perl interpreter. The flaw specifically manifests when the script parameter contains the "-e" flag, which is a legitimate perl command line option used to execute code directly from the command line. When an attacker crafts a malicious request containing this flag along with arbitrary perl code, the application processes the input without adequate validation, leading to arbitrary code execution on the server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization practices within the web application's authentication mechanism. The login.pl script directly incorporates user-supplied parameters into system calls without proper escaping or filtering of special characters and command-line flags. This design flaw aligns with CWE-74, which addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in a command, and CWE-94, which covers improper control of generation of code. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input is processed and executed without proper security controls, creating an attack surface that allows remote adversaries to inject and execute malicious perl code on the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially devastating for organizations using affected versions of these accounting systems. An attacker with remote access capabilities can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform actions such as reading sensitive files, modifying database contents, installing backdoors, or establishing persistent access to the compromised system. Given that these applications are typically used for financial accounting and business operations, the potential for financial fraud, data breaches, and regulatory compliance violations is significant. The attack requires only a web browser and network connectivity, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of SQL-Ledger 2.6.21 or later and LedgerSMB 1.1.5 or later, which contain proper input validation and sanitization measures. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth by monitoring for suspicious parameter patterns containing the "-e" flag. System administrators should also implement proper access controls, disable unnecessary features, and conduct thorough security audits of their web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1059.006 for execution through perl, and T1190 for exploitation of remote services. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, while incident response procedures should be established to handle potential compromise scenarios. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security design.