CVE-2020-9406 in Online Weather
Summary
by MITRE
IBL Online Weather before 4.3.5a allows unauthenticated eval injection via the queryBCP method of the Auxiliary Service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-9406 affects IBL Online Weather versions prior to 4.3.5a, representing a critical security flaw that enables unauthenticated remote code execution through a specially crafted input vector. This issue resides within the Auxiliary Service component of the weather application, specifically targeting the queryBCP method which processes external inputs without adequate validation or sanitization. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of user-supplied data that flows directly into evaluation functions, creating a path for arbitrary code execution without requiring authentication credentials or privileged access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the queryBCP method which appears to accept input parameters that are subsequently processed through eval() or similar dynamic execution functions. This pattern violates fundamental security principles and creates a direct attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary code that gets executed within the application context. The flaw represents a classic injection vulnerability that maps to CWE-94, which specifically addresses "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and falls under the broader category of CWE-74, "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component." The absence of authentication requirements makes this particularly dangerous as any remote attacker can exploit the vulnerability without needing to establish credentials or access privileges.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents severe implications for affected systems as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target server with the privileges of the running application. The impact extends beyond simple data compromise to include complete system takeover, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, establish persistent access, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks against other networked systems. The vulnerability's presence in a weather service application is particularly concerning as such services often run with elevated privileges and may have access to sensitive infrastructure components or internal network resources.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2020-9406 requires immediate patching of the IBL Online Weather application to version 4.3.5a or later, which contains the necessary fixes to prevent the injection of malicious code through the queryBCP method. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems, while monitoring for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, conducting input validation checks, and performing regular security assessments of third-party components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1068 "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" as attackers could use the injection to execute commands and potentially escalate privileges. The vulnerability also aligns with T1566 "Phishing" as exploitation often begins with crafting malicious payloads that leverage this injection vector, making comprehensive security awareness training essential for administrators and users who interact with such applications.