CVE-2014-3829 in Centreon Enterprise Server
Summary
by MITRE
displayServiceStatus.php in Centreon 2.5.1 and Centreon Enterprise Server 2.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the (1) session_id or (2) template_id parameter, related to the command_line variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3829 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Centreon monitoring platform version 2.5.1 and Centreon Enterprise Server 2.2. This security weakness resides in the displayServiceStatus.php script which processes user-supplied parameters without adequate input validation or sanitization. The vulnerability specifically affects two parameter fields: session_id and template_id, both of which are processed through a command_line variable that ultimately executes system commands. This flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious shell metacharacters that can be interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system, effectively providing attackers with arbitrary code execution capabilities on the affected system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the Centreon application's web interface. When users provide session_id or template_id parameters containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, these inputs are directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization. This design flaw aligns with CWE-77, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in commands, and specifically manifests as a command injection vulnerability. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it allows remote exploitation without requiring authentication, as the vulnerable script is accessible through the web interface. The command_line variable serves as the primary execution point where user-controllable input is concatenated with system commands, creating a direct pathway for malicious code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and persistent backdoor access. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web server process, potentially escalating to system-level access depending on the underlying operating system configuration. The vulnerability affects organizations using Centreon for network monitoring, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to establish persistent access points within enterprise environments. Given that Centreon is commonly deployed in critical infrastructure monitoring scenarios, the potential for data exfiltration, system disruption, and lateral movement within networks is substantial. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, and T1078 for Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage the compromised system to maintain persistence and move laterally within the network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3829 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Centreon versions to the latest available releases that contain proper input validation and sanitization measures. Organizations should implement web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious command injection patterns in real-time while also conducting thorough input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture. Network segmentation and privilege separation should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, ensuring that web server processes operate with minimal required privileges. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other monitoring and management systems, as this type of command injection flaw is commonly found in legacy applications. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of command execution activities can aid in detecting and responding to exploitation attempts, while also providing valuable forensics data for incident response activities.