CVE-2023-3607 in kodbox
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2023
A vulnerability was found in kodbox 1.26. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function Execute of the file webconsole.php.txt of the component WebConsole Plug-In. The manipulation leads to os command injection. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-233476. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-3607 represents a critical os command injection flaw within kodbox version 1.26, specifically within the WebConsole Plug-In component. This vulnerability exists in the Execute function of the webconsole.php.txt file, where improper input validation and sanitization allow malicious actors to inject arbitrary operating system commands. The flaw stems from the application's failure to properly escape or filter user-supplied input before executing system commands, creating a direct pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code on the underlying operating system. The vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and is actively being exploited, making it particularly dangerous as threat actors can leverage this weakness to gain full system control.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the Execute function in the WebConsole Plug-In, where user input is directly passed to system execution functions without adequate sanitization. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-77, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection. The attack vector likely involves an authenticated user or attacker who can submit malicious input through the web console interface, which then gets executed as system commands with the privileges of the web application. This creates a severe privilege escalation scenario where attackers can potentially gain root or administrator access to the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is devastating for any organization running affected kodbox installations, as it provides complete system compromise capabilities. Attackers can execute arbitrary commands including but not limited to creating backdoors, exfiltrating sensitive data, installing malware, or establishing persistent access through reverse shells. The vulnerability affects the entire web application stack, potentially allowing attackers to bypass traditional security controls and gain access to underlying system resources, databases, and network services. Organizations using kodbox 1.26 are at significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts compounds the risk, leaving affected organizations without official patches or mitigation guidance.
Organizations must immediately implement multiple layers of defense to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability. The primary mitigation strategy involves applying the vendor's official patch or upgrade to a version that addresses the command injection flaw, though the lack of vendor response suggests urgent action is needed. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to the affected web console functionality, while input validation and sanitization should be enhanced at the application level to prevent command injection attempts. Web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious command execution patterns, and all user sessions should be terminated immediately upon discovery of the vulnerability. Additionally, system monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual command execution patterns, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as critical (CVSS score likely exceeding 9.0) necessitates immediate remediation efforts and comprehensive incident response planning to address potential compromise.