CVE-2018-7231 in Pelco Sarix Professional
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability exists in Schneider Electric's Pelco Sarix Professional in all firmware versions prior to 3.29.67 which could allow execution of commands due to lack of validation of the shell meta characters with the value of 'system.opkg.remove'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7231 affects Schneider Electric's Pelco Sarix Professional series video surveillance devices across all firmware versions prior to 3.29.67. This represents a critical security flaw that stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the device's command processing system. The specific vulnerability manifests when the system processes the 'system.opkg.remove' parameter, which is used for package management operations within the device's operating environment. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious shell commands through improper sanitization of user-supplied input, creating a dangerous attack surface that could be exploited for arbitrary code execution.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in a command. The device fails to properly validate or sanitize shell meta-characters when processing the opkg.remove command, enabling attackers to craft malicious inputs that bypass normal security controls. This occurs because the system treats user-provided values as literal command strings without adequate filtering or escaping mechanisms, allowing special shell characters such as semicolons, pipes, or backticks to be interpreted as command separators or operators. The vulnerability specifically impacts the device's package management functionality, where the 'system.opkg.remove' parameter is processed, making it a prime target for privilege escalation and system compromise attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command injection, as it provides attackers with potential access to the underlying operating system of the surveillance device. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the application running the package management functions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This threat is particularly severe in security-sensitive environments where Pelco Sarix devices are deployed for surveillance and monitoring purposes, as it could allow unauthorized individuals to gain persistent access to network infrastructure. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to install malicious software, modify system configurations, or establish backdoors that could remain undetected for extended periods. Organizations using these devices face significant risk of data breaches, system downtime, and potential compromise of their entire security infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7231 should prioritize immediate firmware updates to version 3.29.67 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the input validation deficiencies. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks, while regular security audits should monitor for unauthorized access attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring for suspicious command injection patterns. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected devices within their network infrastructure and ensure proper network monitoring is in place to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under command and control techniques, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through legitimate system processes, making it essential for security teams to implement comprehensive monitoring and response procedures.