CVE-2008-7158 in FootPrints
Summary
by MITRE
Numara FootPrints 7.5a through 7.5a1 and 8.0 through 8.0a allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the (1) transcriptFile parameter to MRcgi/MRchat.pl or (2) LOADFILE parameter to MRcgi/MRABLoad2.pl. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2021
This vulnerability exists in Numara FootPrints versions 7.5a through 7.5a1 and 8.0 through 8.0a, representing a critical remote command execution flaw that allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary system commands on the affected server. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization in two specific CGI scripts within the application's MRcgi directory. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads containing shell metacharacters that get processed directly by the operating system without proper escaping or filtering mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors within the application's request handling process. The first vector targets the transcriptFile parameter in the MRcgi/MRchat.pl script, while the second vector targets the LOADFILE parameter in MRcgi/MRABLoad2.pl script. Both scripts fail to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before using it in system command execution contexts. This design flaw allows attackers to inject shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that get interpreted by the underlying shell, enabling arbitrary command injection. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, a well-established weakness in command execution contexts. The attack requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for systems accessible over networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and encompasses complete system compromise and potential data exfiltration. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute commands with the privileges of the web server process, which typically runs with elevated permissions on the target system. This could lead to complete system takeover, persistence mechanisms establishment, data theft, or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations using Numara FootPrints for help desk and IT management services, potentially exposing critical business infrastructure to unauthorized access. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) techniques, as attackers can leverage the command execution capability to escalate their privileges and maintain persistent access.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-provided patches or updates that address the input validation flaws in the affected CGI scripts. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the affected applications and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads containing shell metacharacters. Input validation should be strengthened at multiple levels including application code, network devices, and server configurations to prevent injection attacks. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected systems and ensure proper access controls are implemented to minimize the attack surface. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in staging environments before deployment to production systems to avoid service disruption.