CVE-2023-51450 in BaserCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 02/22/2024
baserCMS is a website development framework. Prior to version 5.0.9, there is an OS Command Injection vulnerability in the site search feature of baserCMS. Version 5.0.9 contains a fix for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2023-51450 represents a critical operating system command injection flaw within the baserCMS framework that affects versions prior to 5.0.9. This vulnerability specifically resides within the site search functionality of the content management system, making it particularly dangerous as search features are commonly used by both legitimate users and attackers to interact with web applications. The flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious operating system commands through the search parameter, potentially enabling full system compromise. According to CWE-77, this vulnerability falls under the category of command injection where user-supplied input is improperly sanitized before being passed to system execution functions. The attack surface is significantly broadened by the fact that search features are typically accessible to all users and often lack proper input validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user input within the search functionality. When users enter search queries, the application fails to properly escape or validate special characters that could be interpreted as command delimiters or operators by the underlying operating system. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious search terms that, when processed by the application, result in unintended system command execution. This type of vulnerability is particularly insidious because it can be exploited through normal user interactions without requiring elevated privileges or specialized attack vectors. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries use legitimate system tools to execute malicious commands. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal application security controls and directly interface with the operating system through the CMS's search interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-51450 extends far beyond simple data theft or modification. Successful exploitation can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected server, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This includes the ability to install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, modify website content, or use the compromised server as a launchpad for further attacks against other systems within the network. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the entire website infrastructure, as attackers could potentially delete files, modify database contents, or disrupt service availability. Organizations using affected baserCMS versions face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. The impact is particularly severe for websites that handle sensitive information or serve as critical business infrastructure, as the compromise could lead to widespread operational disruption and financial losses.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to baserCMS version 5.0.9 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing input validation and sanitization measures can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual search queries that might indicate exploitation attempts, and network intrusion detection systems should be configured to alert on suspicious command execution patterns. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of web applications should include thorough examination of search and input handling functionality to identify similar command injection vulnerabilities. The fix implemented in version 5.0.9 likely includes proper input sanitization, parameterized queries, and enhanced validation of user-supplied data before processing. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against command injection attacks and ensure that all users have appropriate access controls and least privilege permissions to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.