CVE-2016-3987 in Password Manager Pro
Summary
by MITRE
The HTTP server in Trend Micro Password Manager allows remote web servers to execute arbitrary commands via the url parameter to (1) api/openUrlInDefaultBrowser or (2) api/showSB.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3987 resides within the HTTP server implementation of Trend Micro Password Manager, a widely deployed password management solution designed to secure user credentials across various digital environments. This security flaw represents a critical command injection vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems through carefully crafted HTTP requests. The vulnerability specifically affects two API endpoints: api/openUrlInDefaultBrowser and api/showSB, both of which process user-supplied URL parameters without adequate input validation or sanitization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the url parameter within the targeted API endpoints, allowing attackers to inject malicious commands that the server subsequently executes in the context of the running service. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection flaws where untrusted input is directly incorporated into command execution contexts. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and sanitization, where the HTTP server fails to properly escape or filter user-provided data before using it in system command invocations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to organizations relying on Trend Micro Password Manager for credential management. Successful exploitation could allow remote attackers to gain full control over affected systems, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive user credentials, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within network environments. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects web-facing services that are often accessible from untrusted networks, making the exploitation relatively straightforward for attackers with basic web security knowledge. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which describes the use of command and scripting interpreters for executing malicious code, demonstrating how the flaw enables attackers to leverage system command execution capabilities.
Organizations should immediately implement network-level mitigations including firewall rules that restrict access to the affected API endpoints, particularly from untrusted networks. The most effective remediation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the input validation deficiencies in the HTTP server component. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the application code can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious API access patterns and malformed URL parameters that may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The incident also highlights the importance of conducting regular security assessments of third-party applications and maintaining up-to-date vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate such critical flaws before they can be exploited by malicious actors.