CVE-2011-4192 in Studio Extension for System z
Summary
by MITRE
kiwi before 4.85.1, as used in SUSE Studio Onsite 1.2 before 1.2.1 and SUSE Studio Extension for System z 1.2 before 1.2.1, allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands as demonstrated by "double quotes in kiwi_oemtitle of .profile."
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4192 represents a critical command injection flaw within the kiwi open-source toolchain that was widely utilized in SUSE Studio environments. This issue specifically affects versions prior to 4.85.1 and impacts SUSE Studio Onsite 1.2 before 1.2.1 and SUSE Studio Extension for System z 1.2 before 1.2.1. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the kiwi configuration processing mechanism, particularly when handling the "kiwi_oemtitle" parameter within .profile files. This flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious commands that get executed with elevated privileges, creating a severe security risk for systems utilizing these vulnerable versions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the .profile configuration file where the kiwi_oemtitle parameter is processed. When double quotes are introduced into this parameter, the system fails to properly escape or sanitize the input before executing shell commands. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that maps to CWE-78, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to append arbitrary shell commands to the oemtitle configuration, which then gets executed during system initialization or configuration processes, providing an execution path that bypasses normal access controls and operates with the privileges of the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges, and gain access to confidential information stored on affected systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where SUSE Studio is used for automated system deployment and configuration management. Systems utilizing vulnerable versions of kiwi may be subject to unauthorized modifications, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script interpreters, as it exploits shell command execution capabilities to achieve unauthorized system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4192 primarily focus on immediate version updates to kiwi 4.85.1 or later, which include proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable versions of SUSE Studio and related tools. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts. Security administrators should also consider implementing runtime monitoring solutions that can detect suspicious command execution patterns and input validation failures. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust input validation practices throughout the software development lifecycle, particularly in configuration management tools that handle user-supplied data. Organizations should also review and implement proper security hardening procedures for all system configuration files and ensure that privilege separation mechanisms are properly enforced to minimize the impact of potential exploitation.