CVE-2014-4868 in Vyatta 5400 Vrouter Software
Summary
by MITRE
The management console on the Brocade Vyatta 5400 vRouter 6.4R(x), 6.6R(x), and 6.7R1 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary Linux commands via shell metacharacters in a console command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4868 represents a critical command injection flaw within the management console of Brocade Vyatta 5400 vRouter devices running specific software versions. This vulnerability exists in the web-based management interface that administrators use to configure and manage router operations, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors who can leverage legitimate access credentials to execute unauthorized system commands. The affected versions include 6.4R(x), 6.6R(x), and 6.7R1, indicating this flaw was present across multiple release branches of the Vyatta vRouter software ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the console command processing functionality. When authenticated users submit commands through the management interface, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before executing shell operations. This allows attackers to inject shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that are interpreted by the underlying Linux shell, enabling arbitrary command execution. The vulnerability specifically affects the console command processing module, which is designed to execute administrative commands but does not adequately filter or escape special shell characters from user input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote authenticated users to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary Linux commands on the affected devices. An attacker with valid login credentials can leverage this flaw to gain full administrative control over the router, potentially leading to complete network compromise. The vulnerability enables actions such as installing backdoors, modifying routing tables, accessing sensitive network data, or using the compromised device as a pivot point for attacks against other network segments. This represents a critical escalation from standard administrative access to full system compromise, making it particularly dangerous for network infrastructure devices.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic command injection issue that aligns with CWE-77 and follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.1001 for command and script injection. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches, implementing network segmentation to limit access to management interfaces, and enforcing strict access controls for administrative accounts. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect suspicious command execution patterns and establish robust credential management practices to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to management interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in web applications and highlights the critical need for proper sanitization of user-supplied data in administrative interfaces.