CVE-2012-0261 in system-portal
Summary
by MITRE
license.php in system-portal before 1.6.2 in op5 Monitor and op5 Appliance before 5.5.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the timestamp parameter for an install action.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-0261 represents a critical command injection flaw within the system-portal component of op5 Monitor and op5 Appliance software versions prior to 1.6.2 and 5.5.3 respectively. This vulnerability exists in the license.php file which processes timestamp parameters during installation actions, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, specifically the timestamp parameter that is directly incorporated into system commands without proper escaping or filtering mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the timestamp parameter in the install action workflow. When an attacker crafts malicious input containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, these characters are interpreted by the underlying shell during command execution, allowing the attacker to inject and execute additional commands. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection flaws where untrusted data is passed to system commands without proper sanitization. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing command injection attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe security risks to organizations using affected versions of op5 Monitor and op5 Appliance. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web application user, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it allows for remote exploitation without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for automated attacks. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter, specifically shell commands, and could enable lateral movement within the network if the web application has elevated privileges. Organizations may face data breaches, system takeover, and potential use as a foothold for further attacks.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of affected systems to versions 1.6.2 for op5 Monitor and 5.5.3 for op5 Appliance, as these releases contain the necessary input validation fixes. Additionally, network administrators should implement proper input sanitization measures at the application level, ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are properly escaped before being incorporated into system commands. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running web applications with minimal required permissions, and network segmentation should be implemented to limit potential lateral movement. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious command execution patterns, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar input validation vulnerabilities in other components of the system. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation rules to prevent malicious shell metacharacters from reaching the vulnerable application components.