CVE-2020-7633 in apiconnect-cli-plugins
Summary
by MITRE
apiconnect-cli-plugins through 6.0.1 is vulnerable to Command Injection.It allows execution of arbitrary commands via the pluginUri argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2024
The CVE-2020-7633 vulnerability affects the apiconnect-cli-plugins component version 6.0.1 and earlier, presenting a critical command injection flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary system commands through the pluginUri argument. This vulnerability resides within the IBM API Connect CLI plugin ecosystem, which is designed to facilitate management and deployment operations for API Connect environments. The flaw represents a severe security weakness that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable versions of the CLI plugins.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the pluginUri parameter processing logic. When users provide a pluginUri argument to the CLI tool, the system fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as command delimiters or shell metacharacters. This inadequate sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious commands that get executed within the context of the CLI tool's runtime environment. The vulnerability manifests as a classic command injection flaw where user-controllable input directly influences shell command execution, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the CLI tool operates with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple arbitrary code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, establish persistent backdoors, or access sensitive system resources that the CLI tool may have access to. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where API Connect CLI tools are used for production deployments, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise. The risk is amplified when considering that the CLI tool may have access to sensitive configuration files, deployment credentials, or network resources that could be exploited for further lateral movement within the infrastructure.
Security practitioners should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest available version of apiconnect-cli-plugins that addresses this vulnerability, implementing strict input validation at the application level, and employing network segmentation to limit access to systems running vulnerable CLI tools. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime application self-protection measures and monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 classifications under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically addressing improper neutralization of special elements used in commands. The attack vector maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1021.004 for remote services, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other components within their API management infrastructure that might be susceptible to similar command injection flaws, as this represents a broader pattern of insufficient input validation that could affect other system components.