CVE-2019-7177 in Infinity
Summary
by MITRE
Pexip Infinity before 20.1 allows Code Injection onto nodes via an admin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7177 represents a critical code injection flaw within Pexip Infinity versions prior to 20.1, specifically affecting the administrative components of the system. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that permit malicious actors with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary code on affected nodes. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the elevated permissions of administrative accounts to bypass security controls that would normally prevent code execution. The flaw exists within the communication protocols and data processing mechanisms that handle administrative commands, creating a pathway for attackers to inject malicious code that gets executed with the privileges of the administrative account. This represents a significant security weakness that can be exploited to gain complete control over the affected system components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-supplied data within the administrative interface of Pexip Infinity. When administrative users submit commands or parameters through the system interface, the application fails to adequately validate or sanitize the input before processing. This allows an attacker who has gained administrative access to inject malicious code that gets interpreted and executed by the underlying system processes. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes administrative requests containing specially crafted payloads that exploit the lack of proper input filtering mechanisms. The code injection occurs at the node level where the administrative commands are processed, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target system. This flaw aligns with CWE-94 which categorizes improper validation of input data as a code injection vulnerability, and it specifically relates to the execution of untrusted code through administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-7177 is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with a pathway to achieve complete system compromise through administrative access. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary code on the affected nodes with the privileges of the administrative account, potentially leading to full system takeover. This vulnerability enables attackers to install backdoors, modify system configurations, access sensitive data, and establish persistent access to the network. The impact extends beyond individual nodes to potentially affect the entire Pexip Infinity deployment, as compromised administrative accounts can be used to propagate attacks across multiple system components. The vulnerability also undermines the integrity and confidentiality of the communication system, as attackers can intercept and manipulate data flows between system nodes. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 which describes execution of malicious code through command and scripting interpreters, and T1078 which addresses valid accounts used for persistence.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-7177 focus primarily on upgrading to Pexip Infinity version 20.1 or later, which includes patches addressing the input validation issues. Organizations should implement strict administrative access controls and regularly audit administrative account usage to minimize the risk of unauthorized access. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing robust input validation mechanisms and adhering to secure coding practices can prevent similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing principle of least privilege for administrative accounts. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious administrative activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing can help identify similar vulnerabilities in the system architecture and ensure proper implementation of security controls.