CVE-2019-10048 in Pydio
Summary
by MITRE
The ImageMagick plugin that is installed by default in Pydio through 8.2.2 does not perform the appropriate validation and sanitization of user supplied input in the plugin's configuration options, allowing arbitrary shell commands to be entered that result in command execution on the underlying operating system, with the privileges of the local user running the web server. The attacker must be authenticated into the application with an administrator user account in order to be able to edit the affected plugin configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10048 represents a critical command injection flaw within the ImageMagick plugin ecosystem of Pydio versions up to 8.2.2. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms implemented in the plugin's configuration handling process. The vulnerability specifically affects the default installation configuration where the ImageMagick plugin is automatically deployed, creating a persistent attack surface that can be exploited by authenticated malicious actors. The flaw resides in how the system processes user-supplied parameters within the plugin's configuration options, failing to properly sanitize or validate the input before processing. This oversight creates a direct pathway for command injection attacks that can execute arbitrary shell commands on the underlying operating system. The execution occurs with the privileges of the local user account running the web server, which typically possesses significant system access rights depending on the server configuration and deployment environment. The vulnerability requires an attacker to possess administrative credentials within the Pydio application to exploit the flaw, as the configuration editing functionality is restricted to privileged users. This authentication requirement provides some mitigation but does not eliminate the severity of the potential impact, especially in environments where administrative credentials may be compromised or where the application is deployed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software applications. This classification indicates that the flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vector leverages the legitimate functionality of the ImageMagick plugin to process image files, but the insecure implementation allows attackers to inject malicious commands through configuration parameters. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent backdoors within the affected environment.
The exploitation of CVE-2019-10048 follows a well-established attack pattern that aligns with the tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the command and control category. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially moving laterally within the network or establishing persistent access. The requirement for administrative privileges creates a multi-layered security challenge where attackers must first obtain valid administrative credentials through social engineering, credential theft, or other compromise techniques. Once authenticated with administrative rights, the attacker can modify the ImageMagick plugin configuration to inject malicious shell commands that will execute when the plugin processes user-uploaded files or performs image conversion operations. This vulnerability demonstrates how default installations can introduce significant security risks, particularly when third-party plugins are not properly validated for security flaws. The impact on system integrity is substantial as attackers can execute commands with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to full system compromise if the web server runs with elevated permissions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege implementation, where web server processes should run with minimal required permissions to limit the potential damage from such exploits. Organizations using Pydio versions prior to 8.2.3 should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability, as the attack surface remains active and exploitable in production environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-10048 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to Pydio version 8.2.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation and sanitization issues within the ImageMagick plugin. Organizations should also implement strict access controls and privilege management to limit administrative access to the application, ensuring that only trusted personnel have the ability to modify plugin configurations. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect suspicious activities related to file uploads or configuration changes that might indicate exploitation attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by configuring the web server to run with minimal required permissions, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter potentially malicious inputs, conducting regular security audits of installed plugins, and establishing automated patch management processes to ensure timely updates. Security awareness training for administrators should emphasize the importance of validating plugin configurations and monitoring for unauthorized changes to system components. The vulnerability also underscores the need for comprehensive input validation across all user-facing application components, particularly in plugins that interface with system-level functionality. Organizations should consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms that can detect and prevent command injection attempts, as well as establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle such security breaches. Regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other components of the application stack, ensuring a holistic approach to security management.