CVE-2017-14944 in ProGet
Summary
by MITRE
Inedo ProGet before 4.7.14 does not properly address dangerous package IDs during package addition, aka PG-1060.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14944 affects Inedo ProGet versions prior to 4.7.14, specifically targeting the package management system's handling of dangerous package identifiers during the package addition process. This weakness represents a critical security flaw that could potentially allow attackers to exploit the package repository system through malformed or malicious package IDs that are not properly validated or sanitized.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the ProGet package management infrastructure. When users attempt to add packages to the repository, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate package IDs that may contain dangerous characters or sequences that could be exploited for injection attacks or other malicious purposes. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation, which is commonly classified as CWE-20 by the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The system's failure to properly handle potentially malicious package identifiers creates an attack surface where adversaries could manipulate the package addition process to execute unauthorized operations or gain elevated privileges within the repository environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it could enable attackers to compromise the integrity of the entire package repository system. An attacker who successfully exploits this weakness could potentially inject malicious packages with specially crafted IDs that bypass normal security controls, leading to potential code execution, data corruption, or unauthorized access to the repository. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on ProGet for managing software dependencies and package distribution, as it undermines the trust model that package repositories typically maintain. The attack could result in supply chain compromise, where legitimate packages are replaced with malicious versions, or where attackers gain unauthorized access to the repository management functions.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate patching of ProGet to version 4.7.14 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms for package identifiers. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as regular package scanning, monitoring for anomalous package additions, and implementing strict access controls for package repository management functions. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing package workflows. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1195 which covers content injection attacks, particularly in the context of package management systems. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security scanning tools that can detect and prevent the addition of packages with suspicious identifiers to their repositories. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in package management systems and highlights the need for robust security controls in software supply chain environments.