CVE-2011-4639 in WebTitan
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) Traceroute and (2) Ping implementations in tools.php in SpamTitan WebTitan before 3.60 allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in an argument, as demonstrated by an && (ampersand ampersand) sequence.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4639 represents a critical command injection flaw within the SpamTitan WebTitan security solution, specifically affecting versions prior to 3.60. This issue resides in the tools.php file where both traceroute and ping functionality implementations contain insufficient input validation mechanisms. The flaw allows authenticated remote attackers to exploit shell metacharacters within user-supplied arguments, enabling them to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it leverages common shell operators such as the ampersand ampersand sequence to chain commands, effectively bypassing normal input sanitization measures.
This security weakness falls under the CWE-77 category known as "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')", which is a fundamental flaw in software design that permits attackers to inject malicious commands into command execution points. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of command execution and input validation failures, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. The specific implementation in SpamTitan's web interface demonstrates how web-based administrative tools can inadvertently expose underlying system command interfaces to malicious input without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web application user, typically running with elevated system permissions. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform reconnaissance activities, establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or even compromise the entire system. The ability to chain commands using operators like && allows for complex attack sequences that could potentially lead to full system compromise. This vulnerability undermines the security posture of organizations relying on SpamTitan for email security, as it provides a direct path to system-level access through what should be legitimate administrative functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4639 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the tools.php file. The most effective approach involves proper escaping of shell metacharacters and implementing strict parameter validation for all user-supplied inputs used in command execution contexts. Organizations should immediately upgrade to SpamTitan version 3.60 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network segmentation, restricting administrative access, and deploying web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script interpreter, highlighting the importance of proper input validation in preventing malicious command injection attacks. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of the security infrastructure.