CVE-2008-5705 in Verlihub
Summary
by MITRE
The cTrigger::DoIt function in src/ctrigger.cpp in the trigger mechanism in the daemon in Verlihub 0.9.8d-RC2 and earlier, when user triggers are enabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in an argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5705 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Verlihub daemon software version 0.9.8d-RC2 and earlier releases. This vulnerability exists within the cTrigger::DoIt function located in the src/ctrigger.cpp source file, which forms part of the trigger mechanism designed to execute automated responses based on user-defined conditions. The flaw specifically manifests when user triggers are enabled, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system through carefully crafted shell metacharacters embedded within function arguments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77, which classifies it as a command injection weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into shell commands without proper sanitization or validation. The daemon's trigger mechanism was designed to allow users to define automated actions that respond to various events within the system, but the implementation failed to adequately sanitize input parameters before incorporating them into shell execution contexts. This oversight creates a direct pathway for attackers to inject malicious shell commands that will be executed with the privileges of the daemon process, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to systems running affected versions of Verlihub, as remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands on the target system without authentication. The impact extends beyond simple command execution to potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, install backdoors, or use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network. Since the vulnerability affects the daemon process, any user with access to the trigger mechanism can potentially exploit this flaw, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where proper access controls may not be adequately enforced.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is straightforward and accessible to remote attackers who can interact with the Verlihub daemon through its network interfaces. Attackers need only to craft malicious input containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, pipes, or other command separators that will be processed by the vulnerable cTrigger::DoIt function. The exploitation process typically involves sending specially formatted trigger arguments that contain shell commands, which then get executed by the daemon when the trigger conditions are met. This vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the critical importance of sanitizing all user-supplied data before incorporating it into system commands.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to the latest stable versions of Verlihub where the vulnerability has been addressed. System administrators should implement network-level controls to restrict access to the daemon's trigger interfaces and consider disabling user triggers when not strictly necessary. Additionally, proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms should be implemented to prevent shell metacharacters from being processed as commands. The remediation efforts should align with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on command injection prevention techniques and privilege separation principles. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their infrastructure that may be susceptible to similar command injection attacks.