CVE-2018-5779 in Connect ONSITE
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the conferencing component of Mitel Connect ONSITE, versions R1711-PREM and earlier, and Mitel ST 14.2, release GA28 and earlier, could allow an unauthenticated attacker to copy a malicious script into a newly generated PHP file and then execute the generated file using specially crafted requests. Successful exploit could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5779 represents a critical security flaw within the conferencing component of Mitel Connect ONSITE and Mitel ST 14.2 platforms. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and file handling mechanisms within the application's architecture, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized actors to inject malicious code into the system. The vulnerability affects specific versions including R1711-PREM and earlier releases, as well as Mitel ST 14.2 release GA28 and earlier versions, indicating a widespread impact across multiple product lines. The flaw manifests through the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input during the creation of PHP files, which creates a path traversal and code execution vulnerability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated attack vector that leverages specially crafted HTTP requests to manipulate the application's file creation process. When an attacker sends maliciously formatted requests to the affected system, the application fails to validate the input properly and instead creates a PHP file containing the injected malicious script. This newly generated file can then be executed by the application, providing the attacker with arbitrary code execution capabilities within the application's security context. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple security weaknesses including improper input validation, insecure file handling, and insufficient access controls. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-22 as Path Traversal and CWE-94 as Improper Control of Generation of Code, which are fundamental weaknesses in application security that directly enable remote code execution attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5779 is severe and potentially devastating for organizations utilizing affected Mitel systems. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the application user, which typically runs with elevated permissions within the system. This privilege escalation capability enables attackers to gain full control over the affected system, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information. The unauthenticated nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require valid credentials to exploit the flaw, significantly increasing the attack surface and reducing the time required to achieve successful compromise. Organizations may experience complete system takeover, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure, as the compromised system can serve as a foothold for further attacks. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where conferencing systems often serve as critical communication infrastructure and may contain sensitive business data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5779 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Organizations should prioritize applying vendor patches and updates as soon as they become available, which typically involve implementing proper input validation, sanitization, and file handling mechanisms. The recommended approach includes implementing strict file creation controls that prevent arbitrary script injection, enforcing proper access controls on file system operations, and implementing robust input validation for all user-supplied data. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious requests, and implement comprehensive logging and monitoring of file creation activities. Security best practices such as the principle of least privilege, regular security assessments, and adherence to secure coding standards should be enforced throughout the organization's software development lifecycle to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future releases. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures that address both the initial compromise and potential post-exploitation activities.