CVE-2008-6954 in Cobbler
Summary
by MITRE
The web interface (CobblerWeb) in Cobbler before 1.2.9 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary Python code in cobblerd by editing a Cheetah kickstart template to import arbitrary Python modules.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-6954 represents a critical code execution flaw within the Cobbler web interface known as CobblerWeb. This issue affects Cobbler versions prior to 1.2.9 and specifically targets the web-based management component that administrators use to configure and manage system provisioning. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the template editing functionality, creating a path for authenticated attackers to inject malicious Python code that gets executed within the privileged cobblerd daemon context. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it allows remote authenticated users to leverage the web interface to gain arbitrary code execution capabilities, effectively elevating their privileges to the level of the underlying provisioning service.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the Cheetah template engine integration within CobblerWeb, where users can modify kickstart templates that are processed by the cobblerd daemon. When an authenticated user edits a template and includes malicious Python import statements or code within the template content, these elements are executed with the privileges of the cobblerd process. This occurs because the template processing system does not properly sanitize or validate the content before executing Python code, creating a direct code injection vector. The vulnerability is classified as a code injection flaw that directly maps to CWE-94, which represents "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and is further categorized under CWE-74 as "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')". The attack vector operates through the web interface, making it accessible to remote authenticated users who can leverage their access credentials to manipulate template files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the system provisioning infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands on the provisioning server, potentially gaining access to sensitive system information, modifying provisioning configurations, or even compromising other systems within the network that rely on Cobbler for deployment operations. The cobblerd daemon typically runs with elevated privileges necessary for system management tasks, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for environments where Cobbler is used for automated system deployment and configuration management. This flaw directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.006 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python", as it allows adversaries to execute Python code within the target environment. The vulnerability also supports broader attack patterns related to privilege escalation and lateral movement through the compromise of the provisioning infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the Cobbler software to version 1.2.9 or later, where the template processing logic has been corrected to prevent code injection attacks. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization for all template editing functionality, ensuring that only legitimate template content is processed and executed. Access controls should be reinforced to limit template editing privileges to only trusted administrators, and additional monitoring should be implemented to detect suspicious template modifications. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit access to the CobblerWeb interface to only necessary administrative systems. The remediation process should also include comprehensive review of existing templates to identify any potentially malicious content that may have been introduced through previous exploitation attempts, ensuring that the system is completely secure before removing the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing automated template integrity checking mechanisms to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical provisioning templates.