CVE-2008-5580 in mini-pub
Summary
by MITRE
mini-pub.php/front-end/cat.php in mini-pub 0.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the sFileName argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5580 affects mini-pub version 0.3, specifically targeting the mini-pub.php and front-end/cat.php scripts within the application's file management system. This represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system through improper input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input parameters, creating an avenue for command injection attacks that can compromise the entire server infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in the sFileName argument handling within the mini-pub application's file management functionality. When users provide input through this parameter, the application does not adequately validate or escape special shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that could be interpreted by the underlying operating system shell. This lack of input sanitization creates a direct path for attackers to inject malicious commands that execute with the privileges of the web application process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection flaws, and represents a classic example of unsafe command execution where user input is directly concatenated into shell commands without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or service disruption. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on the target system, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data, modifying or deleting files, installing malware, or using the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system, making it particularly dangerous for production environments. Attackers could potentially escalate privileges, establish persistent backdoors, or use the compromised server for launching attacks against other systems, creating a significant risk to overall network security posture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate input validation and sanitization measures. The primary fix involves implementing proper input filtering and escaping mechanisms for all user-supplied parameters before they are processed by the application. This includes validating file names against a whitelist of allowed characters, implementing proper shell escaping functions, and ensuring that all external inputs are treated as untrusted. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious command injection attempts, while conducting thorough code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. Additionally, the affected mini-pub version should be immediately updated to a patched release that addresses this specific command injection flaw, as recommended by the software vendor and security advisory organizations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and input validation techniques as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework's command and control techniques.