CVE-2017-15889 in DiskStation Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Command injection vulnerability in smart.cgi in Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) before 5.2-5967-5 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands via disk field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2017-15889 represents a critical command injection flaw in Synology DiskStation Manager's smart.cgi component, affecting DSM versions prior to 5.2-5967-5. This issue resides within the web-based management interface of Synology's network-attached storage devices, where the smart.cgi script fails to properly sanitize user input submitted through the disk field parameter. The flaw enables authenticated remote attackers to inject malicious commands that are subsequently executed with the privileges of the web server process, potentially compromising the entire storage system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic command injection weakness that aligns with CWE-77, which specifically addresses the execution of arbitrary commands through improper input validation. The smart.cgi script processes user-supplied data from the disk field without adequate sanitization or escaping mechanisms, allowing attackers to append malicious commands that get executed within the system shell. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when developers concatenate user input directly into system commands without proper validation or encoding, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be interpreted and executed as legitimate system commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for further system compromise. Since the vulnerability requires only authenticated access, it can be exploited by users with legitimate credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative privileges are granted to multiple users. The attack surface includes not only the immediate execution of arbitrary commands but also potential privilege escalation opportunities, as the web server process may possess elevated permissions necessary for system-level operations. This vulnerability can be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including prompt patching to DSM version 5.2-5967-5 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the number of users with administrative privileges, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous command execution patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top 10 and MITRE's ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on command injection prevention techniques such as input validation, output encoding, and the principle of least privilege. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other web applications and system components, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.