Ameeba Security Research

Defensive CVE and exploit intelligence

Ameeba Blog Search
TRENDING · 1 WEEK
Attack Vector
Vendor
Severity

CVE-2015-2079: Remote Code Execution Vulnerability in Usermin

Views: 515

Overview

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures system, commonly referred to as CVE, has identified a significant security flaw within versions 0.980 through to 1.x before 1.660 of Usermin. This vulnerability, designated CVE-2015-2079, is a key concern for system administrators and cybersecurity professionals. Its criticality stems from the fact that successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution, potentially compromising system security or resulting in data leakage.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2015-2079
Severity: Critical (9.9 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Remote code execution, potential system compromise, and data leakage

Affected Products

Ameeba Chat Icon Share secrets securely

Ameeba is private infrastructure for communication and sensitive work built on encrypted identity instead of exposed corporate identity systems.

Passwords, credentials, confidential files, screenshots, internal discussions, sensitive AI context, and private coordination should not become exposed across ordinary communication platforms.

  • • Encrypted identity
  • • Private Spaces for organizations and teams
  • • End-to-end encrypted chat, calls, files, and notes
  • • Sensitive AI work and protected collaboration
  • • Built for information that cannot leak

Our mission is to secure human work alongside AI.

Product | Affected Versions

Usermin | 0.980 through 1.x before 1.660

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability exists within the uconfig_save.cgi functionality of Usermin. Specifically, it arises as Usermin incorrectly uses the two-argument form of Perl’s open function in the sig_file_free parameter. As a result, it does not properly neutralize special elements, leading to a potential injection vulnerability. An attacker can exploit this by crafting a special payload, which, when processed, can lead to remote code execution.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is a
conceptual
example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This could be a sample HTTP request, shell command, or pseudocode:

POST /uconfig_save.cgi HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
sig_file_free=|; malicious_command_here ;|

In the above example, “malicious_command_here” would be replaced with the actual command an attacker wishes to execute on the target system.

Mitigation and Conclusion

To mitigate this vulnerability, affected users should apply the vendor-supplied patch for Usermin immediately. If the patch cannot be applied at once, a web application firewall (WAF) or intrusion detection system (IDS) can be used as a temporary measure to help protect against potential exploits. However, these are not long-term solutions and the patch should be applied as soon as feasible.
Remember, staying updated on the latest vulnerabilities and patches is a critical aspect of maintaining a secure and robust cybersecurity posture. Stay safe and always keep your systems updated.

Want to discuss this further? Join the Ameeba Cybersecurity Group Chat.

Disclaimer:

The information and code presented in this article are provided for educational and defensive cybersecurity purposes only. Any conceptual or pseudocode examples are simplified representations intended to raise awareness and promote secure development and system configuration practices.

Do not use this information to attempt unauthorized access or exploit vulnerabilities on systems that you do not own or have explicit permission to test.

Ameeba and its authors do not endorse or condone malicious behavior and are not responsible for misuse of the content. Always follow ethical hacking guidelines, responsible disclosure practices, and local laws.

More posts

Ameeba Chat