CVE-2013-6830 in Mail-SeCure 5099SK
Summary
by MITRE
admin/confnetworking.html in PineApp Mail-SeCure 3.70 and earlier on 5099SK and earlier platforms allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the nsserver parameter during an nslookup operation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6830 represents a critical command injection flaw within PineApp Mail-SeCure version 3.70 and earlier systems running on 5099SK and earlier platforms. This security weakness exists in the administrative configuration interface, specifically within the admin/confnetworking.html component, where user-supplied input is improperly validated and sanitized before being processed in network lookup operations. The vulnerability manifests when attackers manipulate the nsserver parameter during an nslookup operation, exploiting insufficient input filtering mechanisms that permit shell metacharacters to propagate directly into system commands.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a classic command injection attack vector where malicious input containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, pipes, or backticks is passed to the nsserver parameter. When the application processes this parameter during the nslookup operation, the unvalidated input gets executed within the system shell context, allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web application user. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category, specifically CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command, which is a well-documented weakness in software applications that fail to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into system commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with remote code execution capabilities on the affected Mail-SeCure platform. An attacker could potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive network configuration data, compromise other systems within the network perimeter, or establish persistent access points. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on PineApp Mail-SeCure for email security management, potentially exposing their email infrastructure to unauthorized access and data breaches. This flaw particularly impacts the principle of least privilege as it allows attackers to execute commands beyond what would normally be permitted through the legitimate administrative interface.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping it to techniques such as T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. The vulnerability represents a critical entry point for attackers seeking to establish persistence within email security infrastructure, as it bypasses standard authentication mechanisms and provides direct system access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in system command execution contexts. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to PineApp Mail-SeCure versions that address this vulnerability, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious input patterns, and conducting comprehensive network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, organizations should review their administrative access controls and implement principle of least privilege policies to minimize the potential damage from such command injection vulnerabilities.