A recent vulnerability found and reported in OpenPanel v.3.4 has been assigned to CVE-2024-53584. This security flaw is an operating system (OS) command injection vulnerability that affects the timezone parameter. For those who aren't familiar with OpenPanel, it is an open-source web-based administration panel that helps website administrators and developers manage their servers. In this post, we will discuss the details about this vulnerability, provide a code snippet, links to original references, and potential exploits.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability exists in OpenPanel v.3.4 due to the insecure handling of user-supplied input for the timezone parameter. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious OS commands into the timezone field, which could enable them to execute arbitrary commands on the target system.

Here is a code snippet demonstrating the insecure handling of the timezone parameter

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

int main() {
  string username = "admin";
  string timezone = "date;";  // Malicious input
  
  string cmd = "changepaneluser " + username + " --timezone '" + timezone + "'";
  system(cmd.c_str());  // Vulnerable OS command execution
  return ;
}

In this example, the attacker's malicious input is added to the timezone parameter, which results in the execution of the "date" command alongside the intended timezone change. This demonstrates how a command injection vulnerability could be exploited on a real system.

Mitigation

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is crucial to ensure proper validation and sanitization of user-supplied input on OpenPanel's server side. In addition, developers can also implement a whitelist of allowed timezone values to provide additional security.

Exploit

As this vulnerability facilitates arbitrary command execution, the potential for damage is significant. An attacker could exfiltrate sensitive data, create new users with elevated privileges, or even launch a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, causing service disruptions for legitimate users.

Original References

The original discovery of this vulnerability was reported to the OpenPanel project, and the details can be found in their official GitHub repository: OpenPanel v.3.4 Vulnerability Report

Additionally, the vulnerability has also been added to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) where the official CVE has been assigned: CVE-2024-53584 NVD Entry

Conclusion

It is crucial for administrators and developers using OpenPanel v.3.4 to be aware of this vulnerability and take prompt actions to mitigate its impact. By validating and filtering user input, implementing a whitelist for allowed values, and regularly applying security updates, users can strengthen their system's defense against potential attackers. Stay vigilant and prioritize security to protect your server environment from OS command injection vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-53584.

Timeline

Published on: 01/31/2025 17:15:15 UTC
Last modified on: 03/18/2025 19:15:46 UTC