CVE-2020-10818 in Artica
Summary
by MITRE
Artica Proxy 4.26 allows remote command execution for an authenticated user via shell metacharacters in the "Modify the hostname" field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2024
Artica Proxy version 4.26 contains a critical remote command execution vulnerability that affects authenticated users who can modify system settings through the hostname configuration interface. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the web administration panel, specifically in the "Modify the hostname" functionality where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system commands without proper escaping or filtering. The flaw enables attackers who have gained access to legitimate user credentials to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with the privileges of the affected service account.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic command injection pattern where shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks are processed by the system shell when the hostname parameter is saved. When an authenticated user submits a malicious hostname value containing these special characters, the application fails to properly escape or sanitize the input before passing it to system commands. This allows attackers to chain additional commands or manipulate the system behavior through the legitimate administrative interface. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-77 as "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')", which represents one of the most dangerous categories of injection flaws in web applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations using Artica Proxy as it provides a direct path to system compromise for any authenticated user. The attack requires only legitimate credentials to access the administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user access controls are not properly enforced or where credentials are compromised through phishing or other means. Once exploited, attackers can gain full control over the proxy server, potentially leading to data exfiltration, lateral movement within the network, or use of the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting the use of shell commands to execute malicious payloads.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate system compromise as it undermines the trust model of the administrative interface. Organizations relying on Artica Proxy for network security may experience complete loss of control over their proxy infrastructure, potentially exposing internal networks to unauthorized access. The remediation approach requires immediate patching of the application to implement proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before being passed to system commands. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit the scope of potential exploitation, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activities or command execution patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication and privileged access management solutions to reduce the risk of credential compromise and limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in their security infrastructure.