CVE-2017-14592 in SourceTree
Summary
by MITRE
Sourcetree for macOS had several argument and command injection bugs in Mercurial and Git repository handling. An attacker with permission to commit to a repository linked in Sourcetree for macOS is able to exploit this issue to gain code execution on the system. From version 1.4.0 of Sourcetree for macOS, this vulnerability can be triggered from a webpage through the use of the Sourcetree URI handler. Versions of Sourcetree for macOS starting with 1.0b2 before version 2.7.0 are affected by this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14592 represents a critical command injection flaw within Sourcetree for macOS, a popular Git and Mercurial client application. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the application's handling of repository operations, specifically affecting how the software processes user-supplied arguments and commands during version control operations. The flaw exists in the underlying Git and Mercurial integration components that Sourcetree utilizes, creating a pathway for malicious code execution through carefully crafted input sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker with commit permissions to a target repository to inject arbitrary commands that will execute within the context of the user running Sourcetree. This occurs because the application fails to properly escape or sanitize user-provided data when constructing command-line arguments for Git or Mercurial operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through the application's URI handler mechanism, which enables web-based triggering of the exploit. When a malicious URL is processed by Sourcetree's URI handler, it can automatically initiate repository operations that contain the injected commands, bypassing traditional security boundaries that would normally prevent such execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform arbitrary operations on the compromised system with the privileges of the user running Sourcetree. This includes potential access to sensitive files, network reconnaissance, privilege escalation, and persistence mechanisms. The attack vector through web pages makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that may inadvertently click on malicious links or have users who interact with untrusted web content. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Sourcetree versions from 1.0b2 through 2.6.9, representing a significant portion of the application's user base and highlighting the long-standing nature of this security flaw.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates to versions 2.7.0 and later where the command injection issues have been addressed. Organizations should implement strict access controls and limit commit permissions to trusted users only, as the vulnerability requires repository commit access to be exploited. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and URL filtering can help prevent exploitation through web-based attack vectors. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories related to command injection and code injection respectively, and maps to ATT&CK techniques involving command and scripting interpreter execution and privilege escalation. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, using parameterized commands, and employing sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities in version control systems and development tools.