CVE-2019-15490 in openITCOCKPIT
Summary
by MITRE
openITCOCKPIT before 3.7.1 allows code injection, aka RVID 1-445b21.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2019-15490 represents a critical code injection flaw discovered in openITCOCKPIT versions prior to 3.7.1, classified as a remote code execution vulnerability under the RVID 1-445b21 designation. This vulnerability resides within the monitoring and management platform that provides network monitoring capabilities for IT infrastructure. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's data processing pipeline, specifically affecting how user-supplied parameters are handled during system configuration and monitoring command execution. Security researchers identified that certain API endpoints and configuration interfaces fail to properly validate or escape user input, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject arbitrary code that executes within the application context. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the platform where system administrators configure monitoring parameters, define alert thresholds, and manage network resources through web-based interfaces.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input that bypasses the application's security controls and gets processed as executable code within the backend systems. The flaw typically manifests when user-provided data containing shell metacharacters or programming constructs is passed through unvalidated pathways to system commands or database queries. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with the privileges of the application service account. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without authentication, enabling attackers to gain full control over the monitored infrastructure and potentially escalate privileges to system administrator levels. The injection occurs at the application layer where user inputs are directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the system behavior through carefully crafted payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate system compromise to encompass significant risks for enterprise network monitoring environments. Organizations relying on openITCOCKPIT for infrastructure monitoring face potential data breaches, system compromise, and service disruption when this vulnerability is exploited. Attackers can leverage the code injection to install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive monitoring data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects not only the primary monitoring functions but also the underlying system integrity, as compromised monitoring tools may fail to detect malicious activities or provide false security assurances. The widespread adoption of openITCOCKPIT in enterprise environments makes this vulnerability particularly concerning, as it could potentially affect hundreds or thousands of monitored systems across multiple organizations.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to openITCOCKPIT version 3.7.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization controls. Security teams should implement network-based mitigations such as firewall rules to restrict access to vulnerable endpoints and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code through system command injection. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious payloads, conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all monitored systems, and establishing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in related systems and ensure that input validation controls remain effective against evolving attack techniques.