CVE-2019-5029 in Exhibitor Web UI
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable command injection vulnerability exists in the Config editor of the Exhibitor Web UI versions 1.0.9 to 1.7.1. Arbitrary shell commands surrounded by backticks or $() can be inserted into the editor and will be executed by the Exhibitor process when it launches ZooKeeper. An attacker can execute any command as the user running the Exhibitor process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5029 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Exhibitor Web UI component of Apache ZooKeeper management systems. This issue affects versions ranging from 1.0.9 through 1.7.1, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these management interfaces for their distributed system operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the configuration editor functionality, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary shell commands that are subsequently executed by the Exhibitor process during ZooKeeper startup operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the Config editor interface where user inputs are not properly sanitized before being processed. Attackers can embed shell commands enclosed in backticks or within $() command substitution syntax directly into configuration fields. When the Exhibitor process launches ZooKeeper, it executes these malicious commands with the privileges of the user account running the Exhibitor service, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software applications, making it particularly dangerous due to its potential for arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5029 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as the compromised Exhibitor process typically runs with elevated system permissions. Organizations using affected versions of Exhibitor may face complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or service disruption when attackers exploit this vulnerability. The attack surface is particularly concerning because Exhibitor interfaces are often accessible over network connections, making remote exploitation feasible without requiring physical access to the system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which covers command and scripting interpreter execution, and T1068 which addresses exploit for privilege escalation.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of Exhibitor where available, implementing network segmentation to limit access to Exhibitor interfaces, and applying strict input validation measures to prevent command injection attempts. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected software versions and ensure proper access controls are in place. The remediation process should include disabling unnecessary web interfaces, implementing proper authentication mechanisms, and monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Given the severity of this vulnerability, organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems capable of identifying command injection patterns in network traffic.