CVE-2017-7647 in Log
Summary
by MITRE
SolarWinds Log & Event Manager (LEM) before 6.3.1 Hotfix 4 allows an authenticated user to execute arbitrary commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2019
The SolarWinds Log & Event Manager vulnerability CVE-2017-7647 represents a critical command execution flaw that affects versions prior to 6.3.1 Hotfix 4. This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of the LEM platform, which is widely deployed for log management and security monitoring across enterprise environments. The flaw specifically manifests in the application's handling of user-supplied input within certain administrative functions, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary system commands with elevated privileges. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's backend processing components, particularly affecting the configuration and management interfaces that are accessible to authenticated users. Security researchers identified that the issue occurs when the application processes user-provided parameters without adequate filtering, allowing malicious input to be interpreted and executed as system commands. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88 categories, where user-controllable data is directly incorporated into command execution contexts. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication credentials to exploit, making it accessible to both internal users with legitimate access and potential attackers who have gained initial foothold through other means. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms within the network infrastructure. Organizations utilizing SolarWinds LEM for security operations and log correlation face significant risk exposure, as the compromised system could serve as a pivot point for lateral movement throughout the enterprise network. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, deploy additional malware, or conduct advanced persistent threat operations that would be difficult to detect and attribute. The vulnerability's presence in the management interface means that even users with limited administrative privileges could potentially escalate to full system control, undermining the principle of least privilege and creating dangerous attack vectors. From a threat actor perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation, command and control, and persistence mechanisms. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices that are commonly exploited in enterprise security platforms where administrative interfaces must handle complex user inputs while maintaining strict security boundaries. Organizations that have not applied the 6.3.1 Hotfix 4 patch remain vulnerable to exploitation by attackers who may have already established initial access through phishing campaigns, credential theft, or other initial compromise methods. The remediation approach requires immediate deployment of the vendor-provided patch, which addresses the input validation gaps and implements proper sanitization of user-supplied parameters before they are processed in system command contexts. Security teams should also implement network segmentation and monitoring controls around the LEM management interfaces to detect anomalous command execution patterns and limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.