CVE-2015-8771 in GOsa
Summary
by MITRE
The generate_smb_nt_hash function in include/functions.inc in GOsa allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8771 resides within the GOsa web-based system administration tool, specifically in the include/functions.inc file where the generate_smb_nt_hash function is implemented. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system through manipulation of password inputs. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the password handling mechanism, creating an avenue for command injection attacks that can be exploited without authentication.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic command injection flaw where user-supplied password data is directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization or escaping. When the generate_smb_nt_hash function processes a crafted password, it fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted by the underlying shell as command delimiters or operators. This allows attackers to inject malicious commands that are subsequently executed with the privileges of the web application process, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations utilizing GOsa for system administration, as it eliminates the need for authentication to exploit the command execution capability. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially gaining access to sensitive administrative functions, escalating privileges, or establishing persistent backdoors. The impact extends beyond immediate command execution to include potential data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, and further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection flaws respectively, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates, implementing network segmentation to limit access to GOsa systems, and configuring input validation controls to prevent special character injection. Additional protective measures include monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of the GOsa environment. System administrators should also review and restrict file permissions for the affected components, disable unnecessary services, and implement proper logging and alerting mechanisms to detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in web applications, particularly when handling user-supplied data that may be processed through system commands or shell operations.