CVE-2019-25243 in FaceSentry Access Control System
Summary
by MITRE • 12/24/2025
FaceSentry 6.4.8 contains an authenticated remote command injection vulnerability in pingTest.php and tcpPortTest.php scripts. Attackers can exploit unsanitized input parameters to inject and execute arbitrary shell commands with root privileges by manipulating the 'strInIP' and 'strInPort' parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-25243 affects FaceSentry 6.4.8, a network security appliance that provides intrusion detection and prevention capabilities. This authentication-based remote command injection flaw exists within two critical PHP scripts: pingTest.php and tcpPortTest.php, which are designed to perform network connectivity testing functions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into system commands. The affected parameters strInIP and strInPort are directly used in shell command construction without proper sanitization, creating a dangerous attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary commands.
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw classified under CWE-77 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, specifically addressing command injection vulnerabilities that occur when untrusted data is incorporated into shell commands without proper validation or sanitization. The attack vector requires an authenticated session, meaning that an attacker must first establish valid credentials to exploit the vulnerability, but once authenticated, the impact is severe as commands execute with root privileges. The technical implementation involves the web application directly concatenating user input into system commands without appropriate escaping or encoding, allowing attackers to manipulate the command execution flow through parameter manipulation. The affected FaceSentry appliance processes these test scripts during network monitoring operations, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited during routine administrative tasks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected system. Since commands execute with root privileges, attackers can modify system configurations, install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish persistent access to the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of FaceSentry's network testing capabilities, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt network services or use the appliance as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The attack surface is particularly concerning because these test functions are commonly used during network administration and troubleshooting, meaning that exploitation could occur during legitimate system maintenance operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-25243 should prioritize immediate patching of the FaceSentry appliance to the latest firmware version that addresses this vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the appliance and restrict administrative access to only trusted users. Input validation measures including parameter sanitization, proper escaping of special characters, and implementation of allow-list validation should be enforced at the application level. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar command injection vulnerabilities in other network security appliances and applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting the need for proper input validation and the implementation of principle of least privilege access controls to limit the potential damage from such exploits.