CVE-2022-21186 in filesystem-template
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2022
The package @acrontum/filesystem-template before 0.0.2 are vulnerable to Arbitrary Command Injection due to the fetchRepo API missing sanitization of the href field of external input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21186 affects the @acrontum/filesystem-template package version 0.0.2 and earlier, presenting a critical arbitrary command injection flaw within its fetchRepo API functionality. This security weakness stems from insufficient sanitization of the href field parameter that processes external input, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized commands on affected systems. The vulnerability resides in the package's handling of repository URLs and external references, where user-supplied data flows directly into system commands without proper validation or sanitization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the fetchRepo API endpoint which accepts external href parameters without adequate input filtering. When an attacker provides a maliciously crafted href value containing shell metacharacters or command injection sequences, the application processes this input directly within command execution contexts. This primitive allows for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application, potentially enabling attackers to gain full control over the system hosting the vulnerable package. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-78, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and represents a classic command injection attack vector that has been consistently documented in security frameworks and attack methodologies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to perform extensive system compromise activities including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and persistent access establishment. Systems utilizing the affected package may experience complete compromise when attackers leverage this vulnerability, particularly in environments where the package executes with elevated privileges or has access to sensitive data repositories. The vulnerability affects any application that integrates the @acrontum/filesystem-template package and relies on the fetchRepo functionality for external repository management, creating widespread potential impact across various deployment scenarios.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to version 0.0.2 or later of the @acrontum/filesystem-template package to remediate this vulnerability, as no effective workarounds exist for the current implementation. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures, specifically ensuring that all external href parameters undergo rigorous filtering to remove or escape potentially dangerous characters. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based detection measures to monitor for suspicious command execution patterns and establish runtime protections that can identify and block malicious input patterns. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in preventing command injection attacks and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent such flaws from reaching production environments.