CVE-2018-11652 in Nikto
Summary
by MITRE
CSV Injection vulnerability in Nikto 2.1.6 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary OS commands via the Server field in an HTTP response header, which is directly injected into a CSV report.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The CVE-2018-11652 vulnerability represents a critical csv injection flaw discovered in Nikto 2.1.6 and earlier versions of the popular web server scanner. This vulnerability specifically targets the csv report generation functionality where the tool fails to properly sanitize or escape input data from http response headers. The flaw occurs when nikto encounters a server field in an http response header that contains malicious content, which is then directly written to csv output files without adequate sanitization measures. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of command injection attacks where untrusted data flows into execution contexts, creating potential for arbitrary code execution on the system running nikto. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the typical output format of security scanning tools, making it difficult for users to recognize the malicious nature of the injected content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves attackers crafting http response headers that contain malicious csv content, particularly targeting the server field where the injection occurs. When nikto processes these headers and generates csv reports, the malicious commands embedded within the server field are directly embedded into the csv file without proper escaping or sanitization. This creates a scenario where the csv file itself becomes an attack vector, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands on systems where the csv report is later opened or processed. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and output encoding practices within the nikto application, specifically in how it handles header data during csv report generation. According to the common weakness enumeration standard CWE-74, this vulnerability maps to improper neutralization of special elements used in data queries, while the attack pattern described aligns with CWE-94 which covers improper control of generation of code.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-11652 extends beyond simple data corruption or information disclosure, as it potentially enables full system compromise through command execution. When security professionals open the malicious csv reports in spreadsheet applications or process them through automated systems, the embedded commands could execute automatically, providing attackers with unauthorized access to the underlying system. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on nikto for security assessments, as the tool's csv output is commonly shared among team members and integrated into automated security workflows. The risk is amplified because the attack requires minimal privileges from the attacker, as they only need to control an http response header to inject malicious content, which can be achieved through various means including man-in-the-middle attacks, compromised web servers, or malicious web applications. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization in security tools, as the same data that should be used for legitimate security analysis becomes a potential attack vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-11652 focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The most direct solution involves upgrading to nikto version 2.1.7 or later, where the csv injection vulnerability has been properly addressed through enhanced input sanitization and output encoding. Organizations should also implement proper csv file validation when processing nikto reports, ensuring that any embedded content is properly escaped or sanitized before being opened in spreadsheet applications. Security teams should consider implementing network monitoring to detect and prevent the injection of malicious headers in http responses, particularly in environments where nikto is used for security testing. Additionally, organizations should establish secure coding practices that emphasize input validation and output encoding, particularly in applications that generate reports or export data in formats that can be processed by end-user applications. The vulnerability also underscores the need for regular security testing of security tools themselves, as these applications can become attack vectors if not properly secured against injection attacks. According to attack pattern taxonomy, this vulnerability could be classified as part of the command and control attack patterns where attackers leverage legitimate tools to execute malicious code, making it essential for organizations to maintain updated threat intelligence and security controls that address such scenarios.