CVE-2022-27811 in OCRFeeder
Summary
by MITRE • 03/24/2022
GNOME OCRFeeder before 0.8.4 allows OS command injection via shell metacharacters in a PDF or image filename.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2026
GNOME OCRFeeder version 0.8.3 and earlier contains a critical operating system command injection vulnerability that stems from inadequate input validation of file names during document processing. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of PDF and image filenames that contain shell metacharacters, creating a dangerous attack surface where malicious actors can execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system. The flaw exists in the application's document processing pipeline where file names are directly incorporated into shell commands without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages CWE-78, which specifically addresses OS Command Injection in software applications. When a user uploads a document with a filename containing special shell characters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, the application fails to properly escape these characters before executing system commands. This allows attackers to append additional commands that will be executed with the privileges of the OCRFeeder process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it occurs during the normal file processing workflow, making it difficult to detect and exploit without direct user interaction.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to systems running affected versions of GNOME OCRFeeder, particularly in enterprise environments where document processing automation is common. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malicious payloads. The impact extends beyond simple command execution as the compromised system could be used as a pivot point for further attacks within a network. Additionally, since OCRFeeder is designed for document processing tasks, attackers could potentially manipulate the system to process maliciously crafted files that trigger the injection during routine operations.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to GNOME OCRFeeder version 0.8.4 or later, which contains proper input sanitization and command escaping mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to systems running OCRFeeder and monitor for suspicious file upload activities. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where the vulnerability enables adversaries to execute commands through the application's processing pipeline. System administrators should also consider implementing additional controls such as file name validation, restricted user permissions for the OCRFeeder process, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other document processing applications. The fix implemented in version 0.8.4 demonstrates proper secure coding practices that prevent shell metacharacter injection by implementing proper input validation and command construction techniques.