CVE-2024-4299 in iSherlock
Summary
by MITRE • 04/29/2024
The system configuration interface of HGiga iSherlock (including MailSherlock, SpamSherock, AuditSherlock) fails to filter special characters in certain function parameters, allowing remote attackers with administrative privileges to exploit this vulnerability for Command Injection attacks, enabling execution of arbitrary system commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4299 affects the HGiga iSherlock suite of security tools including MailSherlock, SpamSherlock, and AuditSherlock systems. This represents a critical command injection flaw that stems from inadequate input validation within the system configuration interface. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize special characters in function parameters, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by authenticated attackers. The affected systems are designed for security monitoring and email analysis, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it targets administrative interfaces that typically possess elevated privileges and system access capabilities.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77, which describes command injection vulnerabilities occurring when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization or validation. The flaw exists in the parameter handling mechanisms of the web-based configuration interface where attackers can inject malicious command sequences through specially crafted inputs. When administrative users interact with the system configuration functions, the application processes these inputs without adequate filtering of metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, pipes, and other shell operators that could alter command execution flow. This lack of input sanitization creates a direct pathway for command injection attacks that bypass normal access controls and authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-4299 is severe and multifaceted, as it enables remote command execution with the privileges of the affected system account. An attacker with administrative access to the iSherlock interface can execute arbitrary system commands, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects multiple components within the HGiga suite, suggesting a systemic flaw in the application's input handling architecture rather than isolated incidents. This type of vulnerability can be exploited for privilege escalation, persistence mechanisms, and reconnaissance activities that would be difficult to detect through normal security monitoring. The attack vector requires only administrative credentials, which are often more valuable than technical exploits, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is not properly restricted.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-4299 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's parameter handling processes. The primary defense involves implementing strict sanitization of all user-supplied inputs, particularly those used in system command construction, following established security practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure coding. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation using allow-list approaches rather than deny-list methods, ensuring that only expected characters and formats are accepted. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting administrative access to only necessary personnel and implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. The affected systems should be updated with patches provided by HGiga, while network segmentation and monitoring controls should be enhanced to detect anomalous command execution patterns. Security teams should also implement regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar input validation flaws in other applications and systems within their environment, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to command and control operations and privilege escalation.