CVE-2025-24005 in CHARX SEC-3150
Summary
by MITRE • 07/08/2025
A local attacker with a local user account can leverage a vulnerable script via SSH to escalate privileges to root due to improper input validation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that allows local attackers to elevate their privileges from a standard user account to root access through an SSH session. The issue stems from a vulnerable script that processes user input without proper validation mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious input to be executed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically manifests when a local user establishes an SSH connection and interacts with the compromised script, which then fails to sanitize or validate the input received from the user session. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that operates within the context of a local user session, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal initial access to achieve maximum system compromise. The attack vector leverages the trusted nature of SSH connections while exploiting the lack of input sanitization in the targeted script. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories, which address command injection flaws that occur when untrusted data is incorporated into system commands without proper validation or sanitization. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected system, enabling them to modify system files, install persistent backdoors, access sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within a network environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a script that accepts input from SSH sessions without implementing proper input validation or sanitization measures. When a local user establishes an SSH connection and provides input that is processed by this vulnerable script, the system fails to validate or sanitize the input before executing it as a command. This creates an environment where malicious input can be crafted to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. The vulnerability operates under the principle that user input from trusted sources should still be validated before processing, particularly when that input will be used to execute system commands. Attackers can exploit this by crafting input that includes shell metacharacters or command separators that bypass the normal input validation and are then executed with root privileges. The attack requires only local user account access and SSH connectivity, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited from within the network or by attackers who have already gained initial access through other means. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of the principle of least privilege and input validation in system security design. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes privilege escalation through the exploitation of system vulnerabilities, and T1059 which covers the execution of commands through various interfaces including SSH sessions.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate script-level issues and broader system security practices. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization for all scripts that process user input, particularly those that execute system commands or interact with the operating system. The most effective immediate solution involves patching the vulnerable script to properly validate and sanitize all input received from SSH sessions. This includes implementing proper escaping of special characters, using parameterized commands instead of direct string concatenation, and implementing whitelisting approaches for acceptable input values. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as restricting SSH access to only necessary users and implementing monitoring for unusual command executions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of principle of least privilege where scripts should only execute with the minimum required privileges and should never execute with root privileges unless absolutely necessary. Organizations should also implement proper logging and monitoring of command executions to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security audits should verify that all scripts processing user input implement proper validation mechanisms and that SSH configurations follow security best practices. Additionally, implementing defense-in-depth measures such as mandatory access controls, file integrity monitoring, and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that input validation does not break legitimate functionality while providing adequate protection against malicious input.