CVE-2020-10808 in Control Panel
Summary
by MITRE
Vesta Control Panel (VestaCP) through 0.9.8-26 allows Command Injection via the schedule/backup Backup Listing Endpoint. The attacker must be able to create a crafted filename on the server, as demonstrated by an FTP session that renames .bash_logout to a .bash_logout' substring followed by shell metacharacters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2024
Vesta Control Panel version 0.9.8-26 contains a critical command injection vulnerability in the schedule/backup backup listing endpoint that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization when processing backup filenames, particularly in the context of FTP session handling where attackers can manipulate file naming conventions to inject malicious shell commands. The flaw exists in the backend processing logic that constructs system commands using user-supplied data without proper escaping or filtering mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the ability of authenticated attackers to create specially crafted filenames that contain shell metacharacters, specifically demonstrating the exploitation technique where an attacker renames a file from .bash_logout to a variant containing shell command injection sequences. This represents a classic command injection flaw that maps to CWE-77 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in commands. The vulnerability occurs during the backup listing process when the system processes filenames without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to inject shell commands that get executed with the privileges of the web application user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with arbitrary command execution capabilities on the compromised server, potentially enabling full system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges, or perform reconnaissance activities without requiring additional authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire server environment, as the attacker gains the ability to execute any command available to the web application user, which typically has elevated privileges for system administration tasks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data, particularly filenames and command parameters. The system should employ parameterized command execution rather than string concatenation, and all external inputs should be properly escaped or filtered before being used in system calls. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege for the web application user account can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect suspicious command execution patterns and unauthorized file manipulation activities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block known attack patterns targeting this specific vulnerability. The remediation process should include updating to the latest stable version of VestaCP where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and command injection prevention mechanisms.