CVE-2024-5672 in REX 100
Summary
by MITRE • 07/03/2024
A high privileged remote attacker can execute arbitrary system commands via GET requests due to improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw that allows high-privileged remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands through GET requests. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the application's handling of HTTP GET parameters, creating an environment where maliciously crafted payloads can be interpreted and executed as operating system commands. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly neutralize special characters and command delimiters that are commonly used in shell injection attacks, enabling attackers to chain together multiple commands or execute complex operations on the underlying system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88, which classify it as a command injection vulnerability where user-controllable data is directly incorporated into operating system commands without proper validation or sanitization. This weakness exists at the intersection of input validation and command execution, where the application's failure to properly escape or encode special shell metacharacters creates a direct pathway for attackers to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can potentially affect any system component that relies on user input for command construction, making it particularly dangerous in environments where applications handle sensitive data or perform administrative functions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers with high privileges to execute arbitrary commands on the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network. The remote nature of the attack means that an attacker does not require physical access or local system credentials to exploit the vulnerability, significantly expanding the attack surface and potential damage scope. The high privilege requirement suggests that the vulnerability may be present in administrative interfaces or management components where elevated permissions are already granted, making the impact even more severe as attackers can leverage existing access privileges to escalate their operations.
Mitigation strategies must focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms at multiple layers of the application architecture. The primary defense involves proper parameter validation and encoding of all user-supplied input before it is processed or passed to system commands, utilizing techniques such as whitelisting allowed characters and implementing proper shell escaping mechanisms. Organizations should implement the principle of least privilege and ensure that command execution is performed with minimal required permissions rather than elevated privileges. Additionally, employing web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms can help detect and block malicious payloads before they reach the vulnerable application components. The remediation process should include comprehensive code reviews focusing on command construction patterns, implementation of secure coding practices, and regular security testing including dynamic and static analysis to identify similar vulnerabilities throughout the application codebase.