CVE-2009-4024 in PEAR
Summary
by MITRE
Argument injection vulnerability in the ping function in Ping.php in the Net_Ping package before 2.4.5 for PEAR allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary shell commands via the host parameter. NOTE: this has also been reported as a shell metacharacter problem.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2025
The CVE-2009-4024 vulnerability represents a critical argument injection flaw within the Net_Ping package's Ping.php file, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.4.5 in the PHP Extension and Application Repository. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the ping function, creating a pathway for remote attackers to inject malicious arguments that ultimately translate into arbitrary shell command execution. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-77 and CWE-88, which respectively address improper neutralization of special elements used in command injection attacks and improper neutralization of argument separators in a command. The vulnerability is classified as a command injection weakness under the ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping to technique T1059.001 for command and script injection.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the ping function processes the host parameter without adequate sanitization of special shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks. When an attacker supplies a malicious host parameter containing these characters, the ping function passes the unfiltered input directly to the underlying system command execution mechanism. This design flaw enables attackers to append additional commands that execute with the privileges of the web application process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability specifically targets the command line argument handling within the ping functionality, where the host parameter is directly incorporated into system calls without proper escaping or validation.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4024 extends beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive system resources and data. Remote exploitation allows adversaries to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or system destruction. The vulnerability affects web applications that utilize the Net_Ping package for network monitoring or diagnostic functions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where these applications are publicly accessible. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, deploy malware, or conduct further reconnaissance activities within the compromised network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4024 primarily involve immediate patching of the Net_Ping package to version 2.4.5 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input filtering and validation for all user-supplied data, particularly when passing parameters to system commands. The implementation of proper shell command escaping and the use of parameterized system calls instead of direct string concatenation provides effective protection against similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while regular security assessments and code reviews help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack.