CVE-2016-6267 in Smart Protection Server
Summary
by MITRE
SnmpUtils in Trend Micro Smart Protection Server 2.5 before build 2200, 2.6 before build 2106, and 3.0 before build 1330 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the (1) spare_Community, (2) spare_AllowGroupIP, or (3) spare_AllowGroupNetmask parameter to admin_notification.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6267 represents a critical command injection flaw within Trend Micro Smart Protection Server software across multiple versions including 2.5 before build 2200, 2.6 before build 2106, and 3.0 before build 1330. This issue specifically affects the SnmpUtils component and manifests through the admin_notification.php script which processes SNMP community strings and network access parameters. The flaw enables authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands by injecting shell metacharacters into three distinct parameters: spare_Community, spare_AllowGroupIP, and spare_AllowGroupNetmask. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category of Command Injection, which is classified as a high-severity weakness in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The attack vector requires an authenticated user with access to the administration interface, but the privilege escalation potential allows for complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation and sanitization within the SNMP utility functions. When administrators configure SNMP notifications through the web interface, the parameters are directly passed to system commands without adequate sanitization or escaping of shell metacharacters. This design flaw allows attackers to inject malicious commands that get executed with the privileges of the web server process, typically running with elevated system permissions. The impact is particularly severe because the affected parameters control network access and SNMP community strings, which are essential components of network monitoring and security infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the underlying operating system, modify configuration files, install backdoors, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the protected network.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6267 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and potential network infiltration. Organizations using affected Trend Micro Smart Protection Server versions face significant risk as attackers can execute commands with the highest privileges available to the web application, potentially leading to full network compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these appliances serve as critical security infrastructure components, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass network security controls, modify security policies, or establish persistent access points. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, representing a critical weakness in the software supply chain security. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring physical access or advanced technical skills, making it particularly attractive to threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6267 should prioritize immediate software updates to the latest available versions of Trend Micro Smart Protection Server where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations must also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized administrators can access the affected web interface. Additional protective measures include monitoring for unusual command execution patterns, implementing web application firewalls to detect malicious input patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure components. Security teams should also establish strict input validation policies and employ automated tools to scan for similar vulnerabilities in other network management applications. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing of updated software to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing network configurations while maintaining the integrity of the security infrastructure.