CVE-2009-4648 in Secure File Transfer Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
Accellion Secure File Transfer Appliance before 8_0_105 does not properly restrict access to sensitive commands and arguments that run with extra sudo privileges, which allows local administrators to gain privileges via (1) arbitrary arguments in the --file_move action in /usr/local/bin/admin.pl, or a hard link attack in (2) chmod or (3) a certain cp command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2026
The Accellion Secure File Transfer Appliance represents a critical security vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4648, which affects versions prior to 8_0_105. This vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the appliance's administrative interface, specifically targeting the /usr/local/bin/admin.pl script that executes with elevated sudo privileges. The flaw manifests through three distinct attack vectors that collectively enable local administrators to escalate their privileges, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on this file transfer solution for sensitive data handling. The vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege by allowing unauthorized privilege escalation through legitimate administrative tools.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves three specific attack paths that exploit command execution flaws within the administrative Perl script. The first vector targets the --file_move action in admin.pl where arbitrary arguments can be passed, allowing an attacker to manipulate the command execution flow and potentially execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges. The second vector exploits a hard link attack scenario during chmod operations, where symbolic links can be manipulated to gain access to restricted files or execute code with higher privileges. The third vector involves a specific cp command execution that can be manipulated to achieve privilege escalation. These attack paths align with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and represent a classic example of command injection vulnerabilities that leverage legitimate system utilities to achieve unauthorized access.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4648 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of the Accellion appliance. Local administrators who can access the system can leverage these vulnerabilities to gain root-level access, potentially compromising all data stored or processed through the appliance. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where the appliance handles sensitive government, healthcare, or financial data, as it could enable attackers to bypass security controls and access confidential information. The attack requires only local administrator privileges to exploit, making it accessible to insiders or attackers who have gained initial access to the system. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and specifically addresses the exploitation of local administrative accounts for elevation of privileges.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to version 8_0_105 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the improper access control issues. System administrators should also implement additional security controls such as monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns, restricting local administrative access to only necessary personnel, and implementing proper file permissions and access controls. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in administrative scripts, particularly those that execute with elevated privileges. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of all administrative tools and scripts to identify similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities, as the flaw represents a common pattern in systems where administrative interfaces fail to properly validate or sanitize user inputs before executing privileged commands.