CVE-2017-9736 in SPIP
Summary
by MITRE
SPIP 3.1.x before 3.1.6 and 3.2.x before Beta 3 does not remove shell metacharacters from the host field, allowing a remote attacker to cause remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9736 affects the SPIP content management system, specifically versions 3.1.x prior to 3.1.6 and 3.2.x prior to Beta 3. This represents a critical remote code execution flaw that stems from inadequate input validation within the system's handling of the host field parameter. The vulnerability exists in the core processing logic where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being used in shell commands, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary commands into the system's execution environment.
The technical flaw manifests when the host field parameter is processed without appropriate sanitization of shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, backticks, or pipe characters. When an attacker submits malicious input containing these metacharacters through the host field, the system fails to strip or escape these special characters before incorporating them into shell commands. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-78, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and falls under the broader category of command injection flaws that have been consistently ranked among the top security risks by organizations like OWASP.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any organization utilizing affected SPIP versions. Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication to exploit, making it a prime target for automated scanning and exploitation tools. This vulnerability can be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, manipulate website content, or use the compromised system as a launchpad for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to versions 3.1.6 or later for the 3.1.x branch and Beta 3 or later for the 3.2.x branch. Organizations should also implement input validation measures at multiple layers including web application firewalls, API gateways, and application-level sanitization routines. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all input fields are properly sanitized and that no other similar vulnerabilities exist within the codebase. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect suspicious command execution patterns and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to handle remote code execution attacks. Additionally, organizations should review their overall security posture and consider implementing principle of least privilege configurations to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's execution and privilege escalation tactics.