CVE-2014-9489 in gollum
Summary
by MITRE
The gollum-grit_adapter Ruby gem dependency in gollum before 3.1.1 and the gollum-lib gem dependency in gollum-lib before 4.0.1 when the string "master" is in any of the wiki documents, allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via the -O or --open-files-in-pager flags.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9489 represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting the gollum wiki system and its underlying dependencies. This security issue specifically impacts versions prior to 3.1.1 for the gollum gem and 4.0.1 for the gollum-lib gem, where the system fails to properly sanitize user input during document processing operations. The flaw occurs when the string "master" appears within any wiki document, creating a dangerous condition that enables authenticated remote attackers to inject and execute arbitrary commands on the affected system.
The technical exploitation mechanism leverages the interaction between the gollum wiki engine and its grit_adapter dependency, which handles git repository operations. When a document contains the specific string "master" and the system processes commands using the -O or --open-files-in-pager flags, the input validation fails to properly escape or filter user-provided content. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and CWE-94, which addresses improper control of generation of code. The flaw essentially allows attackers to manipulate command-line arguments that are passed to underlying system commands, creating a path for arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers with authenticated access to potentially compromise the entire wiki server infrastructure. Since the vulnerability requires only authenticated access, it can be exploited by malicious users who have legitimate credentials to the wiki system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where wiki access is broadly distributed. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain full system control, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or further lateral movement within the network. The attack vector specifically targets the git repository operations that gollum performs, making it particularly effective against wiki systems that rely heavily on version control features.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9489 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of both the gollum and gollum-lib gems. Organizations should prioritize updating to gollum version 3.1.1 or later and gollum-lib version 4.0.1 or later to eliminate the vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement input validation measures that specifically filter or escape the string "master" when processing wiki documents, particularly in contexts where system commands may be invoked. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation by restricting which users have authenticated access to the wiki system. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing comprehensive threat detection and response strategies.