CVE-2017-6526 in dnaLIMS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in dnaTools dnaLIMS 4-2015s13. dnaLIMS is vulnerable to unauthenticated command execution through an improperly protected administrative web shell (cgi-bin/dna/sysAdmin.cgi POST requests).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6526 affects dnaTools dnaLIMS version 4-2015s13, representing a critical security flaw that allows unauthenticated remote command execution. This issue stems from inadequate authentication mechanisms within the application's administrative web shell, specifically through the cgi-bin/dna/sysAdmin.cgi endpoint which accepts POST requests without proper verification of user credentials. The flaw creates a direct pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system, effectively bypassing all normal authentication controls and access restrictions.
This vulnerability manifests as a severe authorization bypass that aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization within software systems. The technical implementation flaw occurs in the web application's request handling mechanism where the sysAdmin.cgi script fails to validate session tokens or user authentication status before processing administrative commands. Attackers can exploit this by simply sending crafted POST requests to the unprotected endpoint, enabling them to execute system commands with the privileges of the web server process. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of system commands through web interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected system. Once exploited, adversaries can access sensitive data, modify system configurations, install malware, or establish persistent backdoors. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that no prior credentials are required, making the attack surface extremely broad and accessible to any attacker with network access to the target system. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using dnaLIMS for laboratory information management, where the compromise could lead to data breaches involving sensitive research information, patient data, or proprietary laboratory results.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching the application to version 4-2015s14 or later, which addresses the authentication bypass issue. Network segmentation and access control measures should be deployed to restrict access to the cgi-bin directory and administrative endpoints. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with rules to block suspicious POST requests to the sysAdmin.cgi endpoint can provide additional protection. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. The fix typically involves implementing proper authentication checks before executing administrative commands, ensuring that all requests to system administration interfaces require valid user credentials and session validation before processing any privileged operations.