CVE-2014-4982 in LPAR2RRD
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
LPAR2RRD ? 4.53 and ? 3.5 has arbitrary command injection on the application server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4982 affects LPAR2RRD versions 4.53 and 3.5, presenting a critical arbitrary command injection flaw within the application server component. This vulnerability resides in the software's handling of user-supplied input that is subsequently executed as system commands without proper sanitization or validation. The flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious commands that are executed with the privileges of the application server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter special characters used in command execution contexts, creating a direct path for command injection attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application server's failure to sanitize input parameters that are directly incorporated into system command execution calls. When user-provided data is processed through functions that construct shell commands, the absence of proper sanitization allows attackers to append malicious commands that execute in the underlying operating system. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-77 Command Injection, which represents one of the most severe categories of injection flaws in software applications. The attack vector typically occurs through web interfaces or API endpoints where user input is accepted and subsequently used in system command invocations, making it particularly dangerous for web-based applications that interact with system-level operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to encompass full system control and potential lateral movement within network environments. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands on the affected system, potentially escalating privileges, accessing sensitive data, installing malware, or using the compromised system as a pivot point for attacking other network resources. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on LPAR2RRD for system monitoring and resource management, where the application server typically runs with elevated privileges to perform system administration tasks. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where system monitoring tools often require administrative access to gather performance data and manage system resources.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches or updates that address the command injection vulnerability in LPAR2RRD versions 4.53 and 3.5. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the vulnerable application server to untrusted networks. Input validation should be enhanced at all application entry points to prevent malicious command sequences from being processed, with proper sanitization and escaping of special characters used in command execution contexts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious command execution patterns and unusual network activity that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with attack techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under the command and control categories, specifically targeting system execution and privilege escalation capabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection measures to provide additional defense layers against similar injection vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other applications within the organization's attack surface.