FreeBSD VuXML: Documenting security issues in FreeBSD and the FreeBSD Ports Collection

awstats -- arbitrary command execution vulnerability

Affected packages
awstats < 6.5_2,1

Details

VuXML ID 2df297a2-dc74-11da-a22b-000c6ec775d9
Discovery 2006-05-03
Entry 2006-05-05
Modified 2006-11-15

OS Reviews reports:

If the update of the stats via web front-end is allowed, a remote attacker can execute arbitrary code on the server using a specially crafted request involving the migrate parameter. Input starting with a pipe character ("|") leads to an insecure call to Perl's open function and the rest of the input being executed in a shell. The code is run in the context of the process running the AWStats CGI.

Arbitrary code can be executed by uploading a specially crafted configuration file if an attacker can put a file on the server with chosen file name and content (e.g. by using an FTP account on a shared hosting server). In this configuration file, the LogFile directive can be used to execute shell code following a pipe character. As above, an open call on unsanitized input is the source of this vulnerability.

References

URL http://awstats.sourceforge.net/awstats_security_news.php
URL http://secunia.com/advisories/19969/
URL http://www.osreviews.net/reviews/comm/awstats