CVE-2008-1568 in comix
Summary
by MITRE
comix 3.6.4 allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a filename containing shell metacharacters that are not properly sanitized when executing the rar, unrar, or jpegtran programs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1568 affects comix version 3.6.4, a comic book viewer application that processes various media formats including rar archives and jpeg images. This security flaw represents a classic command injection vulnerability that arises from inadequate input sanitization within the application's handling of file names. The vulnerability specifically manifests when comix processes filenames containing shell metacharacters that are not properly escaped or filtered before being passed to system commands.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the application's execution of external programs such as rar, unrar, and jpegtran without proper sanitization of user-provided filenames. When a malicious user provides a filename containing special shell characters like semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, these characters can be interpreted by the underlying shell as command separators or operators. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject arbitrary commands that will be executed with the privileges of the comix process, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems running affected versions of comix, particularly in environments where users can upload or provide filenames to the application. The attack vector is relatively straightforward as it requires only that an attacker craft a malicious filename containing shell metacharacters that will be processed by the application. The impact extends beyond simple command execution to potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors on the compromised system.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-78, which specifically addresses "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')", and demonstrates how insufficient input validation can lead to critical security breaches. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which covers 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell', though in this case the execution occurs through standard shell commands rather than PowerShell specifically. The vulnerability also relates to T1021.004, 'Remote Services: SSH', if attackers can leverage the command execution to establish persistent access through compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms that prevent shell metacharacters from being passed to system commands. The most effective approach involves using parameterized command execution or implementing strict filename validation that rejects or escapes special characters before they can be processed. Additionally, privilege separation should be implemented to ensure that the comix application runs with minimal required permissions, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. System administrators should also consider implementing network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems and web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious filename patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.