Vulnerabilities > CVE-2014-3121 - OS Command Injection vulnerability in Marc Lehmann Rxvt-Unicode

047910
CVSS 7.6 - HIGH
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
HIGH
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
COMPLETE
Integrity impact
COMPLETE
Availability impact
COMPLETE
network
high complexity
marc-lehmann
CWE-78
nessus

Summary

rxvt-unicode before 9.20 does not properly handle OSC escape sequences, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to manipulate arbitrary X window properties and execute arbitrary commands.

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Command Line Execution through SQL Injection
    An attacker uses standard SQL injection methods to inject data into the command line for execution. This could be done directly through misuse of directives such as MSSQL_xp_cmdshell or indirectly through injection of data into the database that would be interpreted as shell commands. Sometime later, an unscrupulous backend application (or could be part of the functionality of the same application) fetches the injected data stored in the database and uses this data as command line arguments without performing proper validation. The malicious data escapes that data plane by spawning new commands to be executed on the host.
  • Command Delimiters
    An attack of this type exploits a programs' vulnerabilities that allows an attacker's commands to be concatenated onto a legitimate command with the intent of targeting other resources such as the file system or database. The system that uses a filter or a blacklist input validation, as opposed to whitelist validation is vulnerable to an attacker who predicts delimiters (or combinations of delimiters) not present in the filter or blacklist. As with other injection attacks, the attacker uses the command delimiter payload as an entry point to tunnel through the application and activate additional attacks through SQL queries, shell commands, network scanning, and so on.
  • Exploiting Multiple Input Interpretation Layers
    An attacker supplies the target software with input data that contains sequences of special characters designed to bypass input validation logic. This exploit relies on the target making multiples passes over the input data and processing a "layer" of special characters with each pass. In this manner, the attacker can disguise input that would otherwise be rejected as invalid by concealing it with layers of special/escape characters that are stripped off by subsequent processing steps. The goal is to first discover cases where the input validation layer executes before one or more parsing layers. That is, user input may go through the following logic in an application: In such cases, the attacker will need to provide input that will pass through the input validator, but after passing through parser2, will be converted into something that the input validator was supposed to stop.
  • Argument Injection
    An attacker changes the behavior or state of a targeted application through injecting data or command syntax through the targets use of non-validated and non-filtered arguments of exposed services or methods.
  • OS Command Injection
    In this type of an attack, an adversary injects operating system commands into existing application functions. An application that uses untrusted input to build command strings is vulnerable. An adversary can leverage OS command injection in an application to elevate privileges, execute arbitrary commands and compromise the underlying operating system.

Nessus

  • NASL familyGentoo Local Security Checks
    NASL idGENTOO_GLSA-201406-18.NASL
    descriptionThe remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-201406-18 (rxvt-unicode: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code) rxvt-unicode does not properly handle OSC escape sequences, including those used to read and write X window properties. Impact : A remote attacker could entice a user to run a specially crafted file using rxvt-unicode, possibly resulting in execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the process or a Denial of Service condition. Workaround : There is no known workaround at this time.
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id76154
    published2014-06-20
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2018 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/76154
    titleGLSA-201406-18 : rxvt-unicode: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code
    code
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were
    # extracted from Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 201406-18.
    #
    # The advisory text is Copyright (C) 2001-2016 Gentoo Foundation, Inc.
    # and licensed under the Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike 
    # license. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(76154);
      script_version("1.5");
      script_cvs_date("Date: 2018/07/12 19:01:15");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2014-3121");
      script_bugtraq_id(67155);
      script_xref(name:"GLSA", value:"201406-18");
    
      script_name(english:"GLSA-201406-18 : rxvt-unicode: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code");
      script_summary(english:"Checks for updated package(s) in /var/db/pkg");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:
    "The remote Gentoo host is missing one or more security-related
    patches."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "The remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-201406-18
    (rxvt-unicode: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code)
    
        rxvt-unicode does not properly handle OSC escape sequences, including
          those used to read and write X window properties.
      
    Impact :
    
        A remote attacker could entice a user to run a specially crafted file
          using rxvt-unicode, possibly resulting in execution of arbitrary code
          with the privileges of the process or a Denial of Service condition.
      
    Workaround :
    
        There is no known workaround at this time."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201406-18"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:
    "All rxvt-unicode users should upgrade to the latest version:
          # emerge --sync
          # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose '>=x11-terms/rxvt-unicode-9.20'"
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:gentoo:linux:rxvt-unicode");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:gentoo:linux");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2014/06/19");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2014/06/20");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2014-2018 Tenable Network Security, Inc.");
      script_family(english:"Gentoo Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Gentoo/release", "Host/Gentoo/qpkg-list");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("global_settings.inc");
    include("qpkg.inc");
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/Gentoo/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Gentoo");
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/Gentoo/qpkg-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    
    flag = 0;
    
    if (qpkg_check(package:"x11-terms/rxvt-unicode", unaffected:make_list("ge 9.20"), vulnerable:make_list("lt 9.20"))) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:qpkg_report_get());
      else security_hole(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = qpkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "rxvt-unicode");
    }
    
  • NASL familyDebian Local Security Checks
    NASL idDEBIAN_DSA-2925.NASL
    descriptionPhillip Hallam-Baker discovered that window property values could be queried in rxvt-unicode, resulting in the potential execution of arbitrary commands.
    last seen2020-03-17
    modified2014-05-09
    plugin id73924
    published2014-05-09
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/73924
    titleDebian DSA-2925-1 : rxvt-unicode - security update
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
    # extracted from Debian Security Advisory DSA-2925. The text 
    # itself is copyright (C) Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(73924);
      script_version("1.9");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/03/12");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2014-3121");
      script_bugtraq_id(67155);
      script_xref(name:"DSA", value:"2925");
    
      script_name(english:"Debian DSA-2925-1 : rxvt-unicode - security update");
      script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for the updated package");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote Debian host is missing a security-related update."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "Phillip Hallam-Baker discovered that window property values could be
    queried in rxvt-unicode, resulting in the potential execution of
    arbitrary commands."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=746593"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://packages.debian.org/source/squeeze/rxvt-unicode"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://packages.debian.org/source/wheezy/rxvt-unicode"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-2925"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:
    "Upgrade the rxvt-unicode packages.
    
    For the oldstable distribution (squeeze), this problem has been fixed
    in version 9.07-2+deb6u1.
    
    For the stable distribution (wheezy), this problem has been fixed in
    version 9.15-2+deb7u1."
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:rxvt-unicode");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:6.0");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:7.0");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2014/05/08");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2014/05/09");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2014-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
      script_family(english:"Debian Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Debian/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("debian_package.inc");
    
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Debian");
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    
    flag = 0;
    if (deb_check(release:"6.0", prefix:"rxvt-unicode", reference:"9.07-2+deb6u1")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"6.0", prefix:"rxvt-unicode-lite", reference:"9.07-2+deb6u1")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"6.0", prefix:"rxvt-unicode-ml", reference:"9.07-2+deb6u1")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"rxvt-unicode", reference:"9.15-2+deb7u1")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"rxvt-unicode-256color", reference:"9.15-2+deb7u1")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"rxvt-unicode-lite", reference:"9.15-2+deb7u1")) flag++;
    if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"rxvt-unicode-ml", reference:"9.15-2+deb7u1")) flag++;
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:deb_report_get());
      else security_hole(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");
    
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2014-5939.NASL
    description - Update to 9.20: http://cvs.schmorp.de/rxvt-unicode/Changes - Fix CVE-2014-3121: user-assisted arbitrary commands execution Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Fedora security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-03-17
    modified2014-05-12
    plugin id73954
    published2014-05-12
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/73954
    titleFedora 20 : rxvt-unicode-9.20-1.fc20 (2014-5939)
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
    #
    # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    #
    # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
    # extracted from Fedora Security Advisory 2014-5939.
    #
    
    include("compat.inc");
    
    if (description)
    {
      script_id(73954);
      script_version("1.5");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/03/12");
    
      script_cve_id("CVE-2014-3121");
      script_bugtraq_id(67155);
      script_xref(name:"FEDORA", value:"2014-5939");
    
      script_name(english:"Fedora 20 : rxvt-unicode-9.20-1.fc20 (2014-5939)");
      script_summary(english:"Checks rpm output for the updated package.");
    
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"synopsis", 
        value:"The remote Fedora host is missing a security update."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"description", 
        value:
    "  - Update to 9.20:
        http://cvs.schmorp.de/rxvt-unicode/Changes
    
        - Fix CVE-2014-3121: user-assisted arbitrary commands
          execution
    
    Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding
    description block directly from the Fedora security advisory. Tenable
    has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible
    without introducing additional issues."
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://cvs.schmorp.de/rxvt-unicode/Changes"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1093287"
      );
      # https://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2014-May/133195.html
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"see_also",
        value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?11a36535"
      );
      script_set_attribute(
        attribute:"solution", 
        value:"Update the affected rxvt-unicode package."
      );
      script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
      script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:ND/RL:OF/RC:C");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:fedoraproject:fedora:rxvt-unicode");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:fedoraproject:fedora:20");
    
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2014/05/02");
      script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2014/05/12");
      script_end_attributes();
    
      script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
      script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2014-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.");
      script_family(english:"Fedora Local Security Checks");
    
      script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
      script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/RedHat/release", "Host/RedHat/rpm-list");
    
      exit(0);
    }
    
    
    include("audit.inc");
    include("global_settings.inc");
    include("rpm.inc");
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
    release = get_kb_item("Host/RedHat/release");
    if (isnull(release) || "Fedora" >!< release) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora");
    os_ver = eregmatch(pattern: "Fedora.*release ([0-9]+)", string:release);
    if (isnull(os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_APP_VER, "Fedora");
    os_ver = os_ver[1];
    if (! ereg(pattern:"^20([^0-9]|$)", string:os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora 20.x", "Fedora " + os_ver);
    
    if (!get_kb_item("Host/RedHat/rpm-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);
    
    cpu = get_kb_item("Host/cpu");
    if (isnull(cpu)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_ARCH);
    if ("x86_64" >!< cpu && cpu !~ "^i[3-6]86$") audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_IMPLEMENTED, "Fedora", cpu);
    
    flag = 0;
    if (rpm_check(release:"FC20", reference:"rxvt-unicode-9.20-1.fc20")) flag++;
    
    
    if (flag)
    {
      if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:rpm_report_get());
      else security_hole(0);
      exit(0);
    }
    else
    {
      tested = pkg_tests_get();
      if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
      else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "rxvt-unicode");
    }
    
  • NASL familySuSE Local Security Checks
    NASL idOPENSUSE-2014-430.NASL
    descriptionrxvt-unicode was patched to ensure that window property values can not be queried in secure mode (CVE-2014-3121).
    last seen2020-06-05
    modified2014-06-19
    plugin id76136
    published2014-06-19
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/76136
    titleopenSUSE Security Update : rxvt-unicode (openSUSE-SU-2014:0814-1)
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2014-5938.NASL
    description - Update to 9.20: http://cvs.schmorp.de/rxvt-unicode/Changes - Fix CVE-2014-3121: user-assisted arbitrary commands execution Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Fedora security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-03-17
    modified2014-05-12
    plugin id73953
    published2014-05-12
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/73953
    titleFedora 19 : rxvt-unicode-9.20-1.fc19 (2014-5938)
  • NASL familyMandriva Local Security Checks
    NASL idMANDRIVA_MDVSA-2014-094.NASL
    descriptionUpdated rxvt-unicode package fixes security vulnerability : rxvt-unicode (aka urxvt) before 9.20 is vulnerable to a user-assisted arbitrary commands execution issue. This can be exploited by the unprocessed display of certain escape sequences in a crafted text file or program output. Arbitrary command sequences can be constructed using this, and unintentionally executed if used in conjunction with various other escape sequences (CVE-2014-3121).
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id74072
    published2014-05-19
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2019 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/74072
    titleMandriva Linux Security Advisory : rxvt-unicode (MDVSA-2014:094)
  • NASL familySuSE Local Security Checks
    NASL idSUSE_11_RXVT-UNICODE-140620.NASL
    descriptionrxvt-unicode was updated to ensure that window property values can not be queried in secure mode. (CVE-2014-3121)
    last seen2020-06-05
    modified2014-06-25
    plugin id76212
    published2014-06-25
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2014-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/76212
    titleSuSE 11.3 Security Update : rxvt-unicode (SAT Patch Number 9421)