CVE-2013-5671 in fog-dragonfly
Summary
by MITRE
lib/dragonfly/imagemagickutils.rb in the fog-dragonfly gem 0.8.2 for Ruby allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5671 affects the fog-dragonfly gem version 0.8.2, a Ruby library that provides integration with the Dragonfly image processing framework. This security flaw exists within the lib/dragonfly/imagemagickutils.rb file, which handles ImageMagick utility operations. The vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands on the affected server. The unspecified vectors suggest that the attack surface encompasses multiple potential entry points through which malicious input can be processed and executed without proper sanitization.
This vulnerability manifests as a classic command injection vulnerability, which maps to CWE-77 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The flaw occurs when user-supplied input is directly incorporated into system command execution without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. The fog-dragonfly gem operates by processing image files through ImageMagick utilities, and when malicious data is passed through the image processing pipeline, it can be interpreted as shell commands rather than image data. This creates a severe security risk where an attacker can leverage the gem's functionality to execute arbitrary code on the underlying system with the privileges of the running application process.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5671 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to the entire server infrastructure. Since the vulnerability allows remote command execution, attackers can manipulate file systems, install malware, establish persistence mechanisms, or escalate privileges within the system. The gem's integration with web applications means that this vulnerability can be exploited through web interfaces, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where image processing is a common feature. The attack can result in complete system compromise, data theft, or service disruption, depending on the attacker's objectives and the system's configuration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including upgrading to a patched version of the fog-dragonfly gem, as the vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. Organizations should implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malicious data from reaching the command execution layer. Network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential impact of exploitation, while regular security audits and penetration testing can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of system commands through application interfaces. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for unusual command execution patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.