CVE-2007-5066 in Webmin
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Webmin before 1.370 on Windows allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2018
This vulnerability resides in the Webmin administrative interface software version 1.370 and earlier, specifically affecting Windows installations. The issue represents a command injection flaw that occurs when authenticated users send specially crafted URLs to the Webmin server. The vulnerability allows attackers who have already established authentication credentials to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary system commands with the privileges of the Webmin service account. This represents a significant security risk as it transforms a legitimate administrative interface into a potential attack vector for remote code execution.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation within Webmin's URL processing mechanism. When the system receives a malformed URL containing malicious command sequences, it fails to properly sanitize the input before processing. This allows attackers to inject shell commands that get executed by the underlying operating system. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires authentication, meaning an attacker must first obtain valid credentials to exploit this flaw. However, once authenticated, the impact is severe as it enables full system compromise. The issue falls under CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection vulnerabilities that allow arbitrary code execution through improper input handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the compromised system. An authenticated attacker can execute any command available to the Webmin service account, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system enumeration, or further network infiltration. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Webmin is used for system administration, as it could allow attackers to gain access to sensitive administrative functions and potentially pivot to other systems within the network. The remote execution capability means that attackers can exploit this vulnerability from any location without requiring physical access to the system.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching to Webmin version 1.370 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to Webmin interfaces and enforce strict access controls. Additional protective measures include monitoring for unusual URL patterns in web server logs, implementing web application firewalls to detect malicious input patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of administrative interfaces. According to the mitre attack framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under initial access and execution tactics, where attackers leverage authenticated sessions to achieve remote code execution. System administrators should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for Webmin access and regularly review user permissions to minimize the impact of potential credential compromise.