CVE-2007-6182 in ISPmanager
Summary
by MITRE
The responder program in ISPsystem ISPmanager (aka ISPmgr) 4.2.15.1 allows local users to gain privileges via shell metacharacters in command line arguments.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6182 affects ISPsystem ISPmanager version 4.2.15.1 where the responder program contains a critical security flaw that enables local users to escalate their privileges through improper handling of shell metacharacters in command line arguments. This issue represents a classic command injection vulnerability that undermines the integrity of the system's privilege management mechanisms. The responder program, which likely serves as a backend service for processing administrative commands within the ISPmanager environment, fails to properly sanitize user inputs before executing shell commands, creating a pathway for malicious input manipulation.
The technical flaw manifests when local users provide command line arguments containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that are not adequately escaped or filtered. These metacharacters can be interpreted by the underlying shell during command execution, allowing attackers to inject additional commands that execute with elevated privileges. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of improper input validation and privilege escalation, where the system's failure to properly isolate user-supplied parameters from the execution environment creates a direct attack vector. The flaw aligns with CWE-78 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and CWE-20 which covers improper input validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive system resources and administrative functions within the ISPmanager environment. Local users who can manipulate the responder program through command line arguments can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the service account running ISPmanager, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This vulnerability undermines the principle of least privilege and creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges further, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the compromised system. The impact is particularly severe in hosting environments where ISPmanager is used to manage multiple customer accounts, as a successful exploitation could allow attackers to access other users' data or compromise the entire hosting infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the responder program. The most effective approach involves proper escaping or filtering of shell metacharacters in all user-supplied arguments before they are passed to shell execution functions. Implementing parameterized command execution where possible, rather than direct shell invocation with user input, would significantly reduce the attack surface. Additionally, system administrators should ensure that the ISPmanager installation is kept up to date with the latest security patches and consider implementing privilege separation techniques to limit the impact of potential exploitation. The remediation efforts should also include monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns and implementing proper access controls to limit local user privileges within the ISPmanager environment. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries use shell commands to execute malicious code. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy systems.