CVE-2019-8404 in Inventory
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Webiness Inventory 2.3. The ProductModel component allows Arbitrary File Upload via a crafted product image during the creation of a new product. Consequently, an attacker can steal information from the site with the help of an installed executable file, or change the contents of pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8404 represents a critical security flaw within the Webiness Inventory 2.3 application that stems from improper input validation in the ProductModel component. This weakness enables malicious actors to bypass normal file upload restrictions by embedding malicious payloads within what appears to be legitimate product images. The vulnerability manifests during the product creation process when the system fails to properly validate file extensions, content types, or file signatures, allowing attackers to upload executable files or other malicious content disguised as image files. This arbitrary file upload vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in CWE-434, which specifically addresses the risk of uploading files that are not properly validated or sanitized. The flaw creates a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to complete compromise of the web application and underlying infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or content modification, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the system through the installed executable files. Once an attacker successfully uploads a malicious file, they can leverage this foothold to establish backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware. The vulnerability's exploitation capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers the use of compromised applications to gain initial access. The attacker can manipulate the web application's functionality by modifying existing pages or creating new malicious content that executes in the context of the web server, potentially affecting other users who interact with the compromised system. This arbitrary file upload vulnerability also enables privilege escalation attacks when the web server process runs with elevated permissions, as the uploaded executable can be executed with those privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8404 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. Organizations should implement strict file validation mechanisms that check file extensions against a whitelist of allowed formats, verify file headers and content signatures, and enforce proper file type detection rather than relying solely on extension-based validation. The system should enforce mandatory file type checking at multiple layers including client-side, server-side, and application-level validation. Security measures should include implementing proper input sanitization, using secure file upload libraries, and ensuring that uploaded files are stored in non-executable directories with appropriate access controls. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect suspicious file upload activities and prevent lateral movement within the compromised environment. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application, while also ensuring that all software components are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.