CVE-2022-0073: Command Injection Vulnerability in LiteSpeed Technologies OpenLiteSpeed Web Server and LiteSpeed Web Server Dashboards

In this post, we will discuss a critical vulnerability, dubbed CVE-2022-0073, that affects the LiteSpeed Technologies OpenLiteSpeed Web Server and LiteSpeed Web Server dashboards. This vulnerability involves improper input validation, allowing an attacker to perform command injection. The issue exists in LiteSpeed Web Server versions 1.7. to 1.7.16, and has been fixed in version 1.7.16.1. This brief aims to provide a detailed insight into the vulnerability, code snippets showcasing the exploit, and links to original references for a comprehensive understanding.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability classified as CVE-2022-0073 impacts the OpenLiteSpeed Web Server and LiteSpeed Web Server dashboards due to improper input validation. This improper input validation enables an attacker to inject and execute arbitrary commands through the server, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Code Snippet

Below is an example demonstrating how command injection can be performed, assuming the attacker has access to the server dashboard:

import requests

TARGET_URL = "http://target_server_address:708";
AUTH_DATA = {
    "user": "admin_username",
    "password": "admin_password",
    "; custom_command_here > /tmp/test_command_output ; ": ""
}
response = requests.post(TARGET_URL + "/login.php", data=AUTH_DATA)

if response.status_code == 200:
    print("Command injection succeeded.")
else:
    print("Command injection failed.")

In this Python code snippet, an attacker attempts to inject a custom command by adding it as a key in the AUTH_DATA dictionary and setting its value to an empty string. If the server is vulnerable, the custom command will execute, and its output will be written to a temporary file.

Exploit Details

To exploit CVE-2022-0073, an attacker needs access to the LiteSpeed Technologies OpenLiteSpeed Web Server or LiteSpeed Web Server dashboard through a compromised account or by other means. Once the attacker has access, they can then tamper with input fields, inject arbitrary commands, and achieve other malicious activities depending on the privileges of the compromised account.

The presence of this vulnerability enables cybercriminals to completely undermine the security of the affected system, potentially stealing sensitive data, disrupting business operations, or damaging the reputation of the target organization.

To prevent exploitation of this vulnerability, users must immediately upgrade their LiteSpeed Web Server to version 1.7.16.1.

References

For more information on CVE-2022-0073, including technical details and recommended fixes, consult the following resources:

1. LiteSpeed Technologies Official Security Advisory
2. LiteSpeed Server CVE-2022-0073 Vulnerability Details
3. Securely Updating LiteSpeed Web Server

In conclusion, CVE-2022-0073 is a severe vulnerability affecting LiteSpeed Technologies OpenLiteSpeed Web Server and LiteSpeed Web Server dashboards. Users must immediately upgrade their server to the latest version to protect their systems from exploitation and ensure their servers' security and stability.

Timeline

Published on: 10/27/2022 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 12/09/2022 17:08:00 UTC