CVE-2020-7624 in effect
Summary
by MITRE
effect through 1.0.4 is vulnerable to Command Injection. It allows execution of arbitrary command via the options argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7624 affects a software component through version 1.0.4 and represents a critical command injection flaw that enables arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability resides in the handling of the options argument within the affected system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized commands on the underlying operating system. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into command strings without proper sanitization or validation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the software's argument processing logic. When the options argument is passed to the system, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted by the command shell. This allows attackers to inject malicious commands that get executed with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the command execution level, bypassing traditional application-level security controls.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations that rely on the affected software component. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, privilege escalation, or deployment of additional malware. The impact extends beyond immediate command execution to include potential lateral movement within networks and persistence mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on the Windows Command Shell and Unix Shell execution paths. The affected system may experience unauthorized access to sensitive data, system integrity violations, and potential denial of service conditions depending on the executed commands.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-7624 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected software to version 1.0.5 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for input validation and sanitization. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures including whitelisting of acceptable characters and parameters for the options argument. Additional protective measures include implementing proper command execution frameworks that utilize parameterized inputs rather than direct string concatenation, applying principle of least privilege for affected applications, and monitoring system logs for suspicious command execution patterns. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect unusual command execution activities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, emphasizing that command injection remains one of the most critical web application security vulnerabilities requiring immediate attention and remediation.