CVE-2007-3242 in WebAPP
Summary
by MITRE
The Menu Manager Mod for (1) web-app.net WebAPP (aka WebAPP NE) 0.9.9.3.3 through 0.9.9.8, and (2) web-app.org WebAPP before 0.9.9.6, allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the titles of items in a personal menu.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3242 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Menu Manager Mod of web-app.net WebAPP and web-app.org WebAPP applications. This security weakness affects specific versions of these web-based content management systems where authenticated users can manipulate menu item titles to execute arbitrary system commands. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the menu management functionality, creating an exploitable path for attackers who have legitimate authentication credentials to the system.
The technical flaw manifests when the application processes user-supplied data from menu item titles without proper sanitization of shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks. These special characters, when embedded in the title field of menu items, are interpreted by the underlying operating system as command delimiters or execution triggers. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Menu Manager Mod component which handles the storage and rendering of user-defined menu structures, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-77 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in a command, and also aligns with CWE-94 which covers execution of arbitrary code through untrusted input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using affected versions of these web applications. An authenticated attacker with access to the menu management interface can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This attack vector allows for remote code execution, data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, and lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability undermines the principle of least privilege as it enables users with legitimate access to escalate their privileges and execute malicious commands on the server. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected applications to versions that properly sanitize user input and validate menu item titles against malicious command sequences. Organizations should implement input validation mechanisms that filter out or escape shell metacharacters before processing user data. Additionally, privilege separation should be enforced where menu management functions operate with reduced privileges compared to the web server process. Network segmentation and monitoring for unusual command execution patterns can provide additional defense layers. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input handling and command execution paths should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that legitimate functionality remains intact while eliminating the command injection vulnerability.