CVE-2018-14772 in Pydio
Summary
by MITRE
Pydio 4.2.1 through 8.2.1 has an authenticated remote code execution vulnerability in which an attacker with administrator access to the web application can execute arbitrary code on the underlying system via Command Injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14772 represents a critical authenticated remote code execution flaw affecting Pydio versions ranging from 4.2.1 through 8.2.1. This security weakness resides within the web application's handling of user inputs and demonstrates how administrative privileges can be exploited to achieve system-level code execution. The vulnerability specifically manifests through command injection techniques that allow an attacker with administrative access to manipulate underlying system commands, thereby gaining unauthorized control over the host environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within Pydio's administrative interfaces. When administrators perform certain operations within the web application, the system fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into system commands. This command injection flaw enables attackers to inject malicious commands that execute with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability operates under CWE-77 which categorizes command injection as a critical weakness in software that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target system through the application's input handling mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2018-14772 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. An attacker with administrative access can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges, and access sensitive system resources including databases, configuration files, and other administrative interfaces. The attack vector requires administrative credentials but once obtained, provides the attacker with unrestricted access to the underlying operating system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrative accounts are compromised or where privilege escalation techniques are employed.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and execution of malicious code. Attackers can utilize this flaw to move laterally within networks, establish persistence mechanisms, and conduct advanced persistent threat operations. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of the principle of least privilege and proper input validation in preventing exploitation of authenticated vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect anomalous command execution patterns and ensure that administrative accounts are protected through multi-factor authentication and strict access controls. The remediation approach requires immediate patching of affected Pydio installations to version 8.2.2 or later, along with thorough security assessments of administrative interfaces and user access controls to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation attempts.