CVE-2020-7778 in systeminformation
Summary
by MITRE • 11/26/2020
This affects the package systeminformation before 4.30.2. The attacker can overwrite the properties and functions of an object, which can lead to executing OS commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7778 resides within the systeminformation npm package, specifically affecting versions prior to 4.30.2. This issue represents a critical security flaw that stems from insufficient input validation and improper object property handling within the package's codebase. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate object properties and functions, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited to execute arbitrary operating system commands on affected systems.
The technical flaw manifests through a lack of proper sanitization when processing user-controlled input or data structures that are intended to be immutable. When the systeminformation package handles certain data inputs, it fails to validate the integrity of object properties and methods, allowing an attacker to inject malicious code through property overwrites. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code" and specifically addresses situations where attacker-controlled data can influence code generation or execution. The flaw essentially creates a path where an attacker can modify the runtime behavior of the package by manipulating object properties that should remain protected or immutable.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching across various deployment scenarios. Systems utilizing the affected systeminformation package in environments where user input is processed or where the package interacts with external data sources become immediately vulnerable to command execution attacks. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform arbitrary code execution on the underlying operating system, potentially escalating privileges, accessing sensitive data, or compromising the entire system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in server-side applications, containerized environments, or any system where the package might be exposed to untrusted input streams, as it can be exploited through simple injection techniques without requiring complex attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-7778 should prioritize immediate package version updates to 4.30.2 or later, which contain the necessary patches to prevent object property manipulation. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures throughout their applications that utilize this package, ensuring that all external data is properly validated before being processed. Additionally, network segmentation and privilege separation should be enforced to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. From an operational security perspective, implementing monitoring and detection mechanisms that can identify unusual command execution patterns or unexpected system behavior can help detect exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.001 "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1059.003 "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell" as it enables adversaries to execute OS commands through compromised applications. Organizations should also consider implementing dependency check tools and automated security scanning to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their software supply chains.