CVE-2017-10906 in Fluentd
Summary
by MITRE
Escape sequence injection vulnerability in Fluentd versions 0.12.29 through 0.12.40 may allow an attacker to change the terminal UI or execute arbitrary commands on the device via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10906 represents a critical escape sequence injection flaw within the Fluentd logging system that affects versions ranging from 0.12.29 through 0.12.40. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of terminal UI manipulation and command execution risks that have significant implications for system security and integrity. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the logging framework's handling of escape sequences, which are typically used for controlling terminal display properties and cursor movement. When improperly processed, these sequences can be manipulated by malicious actors to inject unauthorized commands or alter the visual interface of terminal applications that interact with Fluentd's output streams.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-74, which specifically addresses escape sequence injection flaws, and demonstrates how improper handling of terminal control sequences can lead to arbitrary code execution. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted log entries or input data that contain malicious escape sequences designed to manipulate the terminal environment. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple UI manipulation as it can potentially enable full command execution on the underlying system, particularly when Fluentd is running with elevated privileges or when its output is directed to interactive terminal sessions. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the attack surface includes multiple potential entry points where input data can be processed and subsequently rendered through terminal interfaces.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations relying on Fluentd for log aggregation and processing, especially in environments where logging systems are directly connected to terminal interfaces or where log outputs are displayed in interactive contexts. The attack vector typically involves an attacker who can influence the logging input data, potentially through compromised applications, untrusted data sources, or by exploiting other vulnerabilities in the system that allow for data injection. When successful, the exploitation can result in complete system compromise, as attackers can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the Fluentd process, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions within the 0.12.x release series indicates a fundamental flaw in the input sanitization logic that required patching across the entire affected version range.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10906 should focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of Fluentd, specifically targeting versions that have addressed the escape sequence injection vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures that filter or escape terminal control sequences before processing log data, following security best practices outlined in industry standards such as those recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of Fluentd instances to untrusted data sources, while also monitoring for suspicious log patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched versions in controlled environments to ensure that the security fixes do not introduce regressions in logging functionality, particularly in complex logging pipelines that rely on specific terminal formatting behaviors. Organizations should also review their logging infrastructure configurations to ensure that Fluentd is not configured to output directly to interactive terminals without proper sanitization controls in place.