CVE-2019-11275 in Application Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Pivotal Application Manager, versions 666.0.x prior to 666.0.36, versions 667.0.x prior to 667.0.22, versions 668.0.x prior to 668.0.21, versions 669.0.x prior to 669.0.13, and versions 670.0.x prior to 670.0.7, contain a vulnerability where a remote authenticated user can create an app with a name such that a csv program can interpret into a formula and gets executed. The malicious user can possibly gain access to a usage report that requires a higher privilege.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-11275 affects Pivotal Application Manager, a cloud application platform that enables organizations to deploy and manage applications in cloud environments. This issue represents a critical security flaw in the application naming and data processing mechanisms of the platform's management interface. The vulnerability specifically impacts multiple versions of the Pivotal Application Manager, with affected releases spanning from 666.0.x through 670.0.x, before the respective patch versions 666.0.36, 667.0.22, 668.0.21, 669.0.13, and 670.0.7. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization when processing application names within the system's reporting mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows a remote authenticated attacker to exploit a classic command injection or code execution vector through carefully crafted application names. When users create applications with specific naming patterns, these names are subsequently processed by CSV generation programs within the system. The vulnerability occurs because the platform fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into CSV files that may be processed by spreadsheet applications. This creates a scenario where maliciously formatted application names can be interpreted as spreadsheet formulas by programs like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, leading to unintended code execution when users open these reports. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-15 as "External Control of System or Configuration Setting" and more specifically relates to CWE-94 as "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')."
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to escalate privileges within the system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain access to usage reports that typically require higher privilege levels to view. This privilege escalation capability significantly amplifies the potential damage, as it allows malicious actors to access sensitive operational data, billing information, resource usage statistics, and other confidential reports that should be restricted to authorized administrators. The vulnerability affects the platform's integrity and confidentiality, potentially exposing sensitive organizational data to unauthorized parties while also providing a foothold for further attacks within the cloud infrastructure.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Pivotal Application Manager should immediately implement the security patches released by Pivotal to address this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive input validation and sanitization of all user-provided application names, particularly those that may be processed into CSV formats. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additional protective measures include monitoring for unusual application creation patterns, implementing automated scanning for potentially malicious naming conventions, and ensuring that CSV reports are properly sanitized before being made available to end users. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1068 for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute commands and escalate their privileges within the system. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their cloud environments to identify similar input validation issues in other components of their application management infrastructure.