CVE-2017-5830 in Adserver
Summary
by MITRE
Revive Adserver before 4.0.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via serialized data in the cookies related to the delivery scripts.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5830 affects Revive Adserver versions prior to 4.0.1, presenting a critical remote code execution risk through improper handling of serialized data within cookies used by delivery scripts. This flaw represents a classic deserialization vulnerability that enables attackers to inject malicious payloads into the application's cookie storage mechanisms, ultimately allowing arbitrary code execution on the affected server. The vulnerability specifically targets the cookie management system within the ad delivery infrastructure, where serialized data is processed without adequate sanitization or validation.
The technical exploitation occurs when the application processes cookies containing serialized PHP objects through its delivery scripts. Attackers can craft malicious cookie values that, upon deserialization, execute arbitrary commands on the target system. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-502, which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution. The flaw leverages the PHP serialization mechanism to inject malicious objects that, when processed by the application, trigger unintended code execution rather than the intended data handling operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it provides remote attackers with complete control over the affected Revive Adserver instance. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute system commands, access sensitive data, modify application behavior, and potentially establish persistent access through backdoor creation. The vulnerability affects the core delivery functionality of the ad server, meaning that any user interacting with the ad delivery scripts could inadvertently trigger the exploit. This creates a broad attack surface since the delivery scripts are typically accessed by both advertisers and end users during normal ad serving operations.
Organizations using affected versions of Revive Adserver should immediately implement the available patch released in version 4.0.1, which addresses the deserialization vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization of cookie data. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious cookie content, disabling unnecessary cookie usage in delivery scripts, and conducting thorough security reviews of all serialization handling within the application. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments should be performed to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the ad serving infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications, particularly when dealing with serialized data that originates from user-controlled sources.