CVE-2020-36762 in RAS Collection Instrument
Summary
by MITRE • 07/18/2023
A vulnerability was found in ONS Digital RAS Collection Instrument up to 2.0.27 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function jobs of the file .github/workflows/comment.yml. The manipulation of the argument $COMMENT_BODY leads to os command injection. Upgrading to version 2.0.28 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is dcaad2540f7d50c512ff2e031d3778dd9337db2b. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-234248.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-36762 represents a critical operating system command injection flaw within the ONS Digital RAS Collection Instrument software version 2.0.27 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the GitHub Actions workflow file .github/workflows/comment.yml, specifically within the jobs function where user-supplied input is improperly handled. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of the $COMMENT_BODY argument, which allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary operating system commands through crafted input. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-78, which specifically addresses OS Command Injection, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it exists within the continuous integration pipeline, potentially enabling attackers to execute unauthorized commands on the build server with the privileges of the automated workflow execution environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code injection, as it provides attackers with potential access to the entire build infrastructure and associated resources. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary commands on the system where the workflow is executed, potentially leading to complete compromise of the development environment. This risk is exacerbated by the fact that GitHub Actions workflows often run with elevated privileges and may have access to sensitive credentials, deployment keys, or other privileged information. The injection can occur through manipulation of the COMMENT_BODY parameter, which is likely used to generate comments in issue tracking systems or documentation, making it a vector that could be triggered by user interaction or automated processes. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates that it could enable attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution with potentially severe consequences for the software development lifecycle.
Mitigation of this vulnerability requires immediate upgrading of the affected software to version 2.0.28, which includes the patch identified by commit hash dcaad2540f7d50c512ff2e031d3778dd9337db2b. This patch specifically addresses the improper handling of the $COMMENT_BODY variable by implementing proper input sanitization and validation techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as validating all inputs within workflow files, restricting workflow permissions, and employing principle of least privilege when configuring automated processes. Security teams should monitor their CI/CD pipelines for similar vulnerabilities and ensure that all user-provided inputs are properly escaped or sanitized before being processed by system commands. The fix implemented in version 2.0.28 demonstrates proper secure coding practices by ensuring that user-supplied data cannot be interpreted as shell commands, thereby preventing the exploitation vector that allowed the command injection attack. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of securing automated build and deployment processes, as these systems often represent high-value targets for attackers seeking persistent access to development environments.