CVE-2008-3907 in newsbeuter
Summary
by MITRE
The open-in-browser command in newsbeuter before 1.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in a feed URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3907 represents a critical command injection flaw in the newsbeuter RSS feed reader version 1.0 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the open-in-browser functionality that users employ to access web content directly from their feed reader interface. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of feed URLs, creating an avenue for remote attackers to inject malicious shell commands through specially crafted feed URLs containing shell metacharacters. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-78 as a failure to properly sanitize shell metacharacters, which directly enables command injection attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when newsbeuter processes a feed URL containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that are typically used to chain commands in Unix-like operating systems. When a user clicks on a malicious feed item and the open-in-browser command executes, the application fails to properly escape or validate the URL contents before passing them to the underlying shell execution mechanism. This allows attackers to append arbitrary commands that get executed with the privileges of the user running newsbeuter, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the feed reader and the operating system shell.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3907 extends beyond simple command execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, privilege escalation, and persistence establishment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain full control over the affected system, particularly in environments where newsbeuter is run with elevated privileges or where users frequently interact with feeds from untrusted sources. The attack requires minimal user interaction beyond clicking on a malicious feed item, making it particularly dangerous in phishing scenarios or when users browse feeds from compromised sources. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically shell scripting, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3907 primarily involve upgrading to newsbeuter version 1.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization of feed URLs. Organizations should implement network-level controls to filter and monitor feed content, particularly for URLs containing suspicious shell metacharacters. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of clicking on untrusted feed items and the importance of keeping their feed reader software updated. System administrators should consider implementing restrictive shell environments or using sandboxing techniques to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in applications that interface with operating system commands, and serves as a reminder of the security implications of improper sanitization of user-provided data in command execution contexts.