CVE-2017-8303 in FTA
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Accellion FTA devices before FTA_9_12_180. seos/1000/find.api allows Remote Code Execution with shell metacharacters in the method parameter.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8303 affects Accellion FTA (File Transfer Appliance) devices running firmware versions prior to FTA_9_12_180. This represents a critical remote code execution flaw that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected systems through a specifically crafted API endpoint. The vulnerability resides within the seos/1000/find.api component which processes method parameters without proper input validation, creating an exploitable path for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to the underlying system infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the method parameter of the find.api endpoint. When an attacker submits shell metacharacters as part of the method parameter, these characters are not properly escaped or filtered before being processed by the system. This allows the system to interpret and execute malicious commands as if they were legitimate system instructions, effectively bypassing normal access controls and authentication mechanisms. The flaw essentially creates a command injection vulnerability that operates at the operating system level, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected service account.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8303 is severe and far-reaching for organizations using affected Accellion FTA devices. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware. The vulnerability affects the core file transfer functionality of the appliance, potentially disrupting business operations while simultaneously providing attackers with a foothold for lateral movement within networks. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and significant financial losses due to the unauthorized access and potential data compromise that this vulnerability enables.
Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch for FTA_9_12_180 or higher to remediate this vulnerability. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to the affected appliances, and access controls should be strictly enforced through the use of strong authentication mechanisms and least privilege principles. Monitoring for suspicious API calls and unusual network traffic patterns should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. From a security framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94, representing command injection and code injection flaws respectively. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1078 for valid accounts, as exploitation typically requires leveraging legitimate system access to execute malicious commands through the vulnerable API endpoint.