CVE-2007-0246 in GForge
Summary
by MITRE
plugins/scmcvs/www/cvsweb.php in the CVSWeb CGI in GForge 4.5.16 before 20070524, aka gforge-plugin-scmcvs, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the PATH_INFO.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0246 represents a critical command injection flaw within the CVSWeb CGI component of GForge 4.5.16 and earlier versions. This issue specifically affects the gforge-plugin-scmcvs plugin which provides version control system functionality through a web interface. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the PATH_INFO parameter handling mechanism, creating an exploitable condition that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands on the affected server.
The technical exploitation occurs through the manipulation of the PATH_INFO variable which is typically used to pass additional path information to CGI scripts. When the CVSWeb CGI component processes this parameter without proper sanitization, it becomes susceptible to shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that can be interpreted by the underlying shell. This allows attackers to append malicious commands that get executed with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-78 as "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')", which is a well-established and dangerous class of vulnerability in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and perform various malicious activities including data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, and persistent access establishment. Given that GForge is a collaborative development platform that typically runs with elevated privileges to manage source code repositories, the compromise of such a system can lead to significant security breaches. The vulnerability affects the web server's ability to maintain integrity and confidentiality of the development environment, potentially exposing sensitive source code, user credentials, and other intellectual property. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) techniques, demonstrating the full spectrum of attack vectors available to an attacker who successfully exploits this flaw.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-0246 require immediate patching of the affected GForge installation to version 20070524 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization measures including the use of allowlists for valid characters, proper escaping of shell metacharacters, and the implementation of secure coding practices for CGI script development. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the vulnerable web application to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious command execution patterns, and regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar injection flaws in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure. The remediation process must also include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while maintaining the security posture of the development environment.