CVE-2023-28614 in IFIS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2023
Freewill iFIS (aka SMART Trade) 20.01.01.04 allows OS Command Injection via shell metacharacters to a report page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2025
The Freewill iFIS (also known as SMART Trade) version 20.01.01.04 presents a critical operating system command injection vulnerability that directly compromises system integrity and operational security. This vulnerability exists within the report generation functionality of the application, where user-supplied input is inadequately sanitized before being processed in shell contexts. The flaw specifically manifests when maliciously crafted shell metacharacters are submitted through report parameters, enabling unauthorized execution of arbitrary operating system commands on the underlying server. Such command injection vulnerabilities represent a fundamental breach in input validation and output encoding mechanisms that are essential for maintaining application security boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of report page parameters that are subsequently passed to shell execution functions without proper sanitization or escaping. Attackers can leverage common shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, pipes, and backticks to inject malicious commands that execute with the privileges of the web application user. This creates a direct pathway for threat actors to perform reconnaissance activities, escalate privileges, establish persistence mechanisms, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the compromised system. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-77 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in a command, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as it enables full system compromise through the execution of arbitrary code on the target server.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted across multiple security domains. Organizations utilizing this version of SMART Trade face immediate risks including unauthorized access to sensitive financial data, potential system takeover, and disruption of business operations. The vulnerability's presence in a reporting module suggests that it could be exploited through routine administrative functions, making detection more challenging and increasing the attack surface. Security teams must consider the potential for lateral movement within networks, as compromised systems often serve as launch points for broader attacks. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for input validation and secure coding practices. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues if the vulnerability leads to data breaches or unauthorized system access incidents.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues. The primary solution involves implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms that properly escape or sanitize all user-supplied data before processing in shell contexts. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls and input validation rules specifically designed to detect and block shell metacharacter sequences. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include verification of command injection protections in all application components. The implementation of principle of least privilege for web application users and mandatory access controls can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation. Additionally, organizations should establish robust monitoring and alerting systems to detect anomalous command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular patch management processes must be prioritized to ensure timely deployment of vendor security updates, while also maintaining detailed incident response procedures for potential exploitation events.