CVE-2020-12078 : Security Advisory and Response

Open-AudIT 3.3.1 is vulnerable to shell metacharacter injection, allowing attackers to execute commands via the exclude_ip parameter in global discovery settings.

Understanding CVE-2020-12078

Open-AudIT 3.3.1 is susceptible to a remote code execution vulnerability due to improper input validation.

What is CVE-2020-12078?

This CVE identifies a security flaw in Open-AudIT 3.3.1 that enables malicious actors to inject shell metacharacters through attributes, potentially leading to unauthorized command execution.

The Impact of CVE-2020-12078

The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target system, compromising its integrity and confidentiality.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-12078

Open-AudIT 3.3.1's vulnerability can be further understood through technical insights.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the lack of input sanitization in the handling of the exclude_ip parameter, enabling attackers to inject and execute arbitrary commands.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Open-AudIT 3.3.1
Vendor: N/A
Version: N/A

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the exclude_ip parameter in global discovery settings.
The exclude_ip value is directly passed to the exec function without proper filtering.
This allows malicious payloads to be executed instead of valid IP addresses.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-12078 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or restrict access to the affected functionality.
Implement input validation and filtering mechanisms.
Monitor and analyze system logs for suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch the Open-AudIT software.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.
Educate users and administrators on secure coding practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest patches and updates provided by Open-AudIT to address the vulnerability.