CVE-2019-16072 in Enigma NMS
Summary
by MITRE
An OS command injection vulnerability in the discover_and_manage CGI script in NETSAS Enigma NMS 65.0.0 and prior allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code because of improper neutralization of shell metacharacters in the ip_address variable within an snmp_browser action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2025
The CVE-2019-16072 vulnerability represents a critical operating system command injection flaw within the NETSAS Enigma Network Management System version 65.0.0 and earlier releases. This vulnerability specifically targets the discover_and_manage CGI script which serves as a core component for network discovery and management operations. The flaw resides in the script's handling of the ip_address parameter when processing snmp_browser actions, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized commands on the underlying operating system. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection weaknesses where untrusted data is incorporated into shell commands without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper neutralization of shell metacharacters within the ip_address variable. When an attacker crafts a malicious input containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, these characters are not properly escaped or filtered before being passed to system commands. This allows the attacker to append arbitrary commands that will be executed with the privileges of the web server process, potentially escalating to system-level access. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and sanitization, where user-supplied data flows directly into shell execution contexts without proper security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable full system compromise of the affected network management server. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains the ability to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web application, potentially leading to complete system takeover. This could result in data exfiltration, service disruption, or the establishment of persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on NETSAS Enigma NMS for network monitoring and management, potentially compromising their entire network security posture through a single compromised management interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-16072 should prioritize immediate remediation through vendor-provided patches or updates to the NETSAS Enigma NMS software. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the affected system and restrict administrative privileges to essential personnel only. Input validation and sanitization measures must be strengthened at the application level, ensuring all user-supplied data undergoes proper filtering before being processed by system commands. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running web applications with minimal required permissions, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network management tools. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to ATT&CK framework guidance for preventing command injection attacks in web applications.