CWE-88
AllowedImproper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection')
Abstraction: Base · Status: Draft
The product constructs a string for a command to be executed by a separate component in another control sphere, but it does not properly delimit the intended arguments, options, or switches within that command string.
550 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-H3RM-6X7G-882F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-03 21:19 – Updated: 2026-03-19 21:22Summary
In openclaw@2026.3.1, node system.run approval-path hardening rewrote wrapper command argv in a way that changed execution semantics. A command shown/approved as a shell payload (for example echo SAFE) could execute a different local script when wrapper argv were rewritten.
Affected Packages / Versions
- Package:
openclaw(npm) - Affected:
2026.3.1(latest published npm version as of March 2, 2026) - Fixed release:
2026.3.2(released)
Technical Details
Root cause was in node-host approval hardening for system.run:
- src/node-host/invoke-system-run-plan.ts rewrote argv[0] to the resolved executable.
- Wrapper resolution unwrapped dispatch wrappers, so input like ['env','sh','-c','echo SAFE'] resolved executable sh.
- The approved plan could become ['/bin/sh','sh','-c','echo SAFE'] while approval text remained echo SAFE.
That rewrite changed runtime behavior: /bin/sh interprets the extra sh positional argument as a script path, enabling execution of a local ./sh file from approved cwd instead of the approved payload text.
Impact
Approval-integrity break in host=node execution flow: operator-visible command text and executed behavior could diverge.
Exploit preconditions: - attacker can influence wrapper argv and place a local file in approved working directory, - operator grants approval for the displayed command.
Fix Commit(s)
dded569626b0d8e7bdab10b5e7528b6caf73a0f1
Fixed Version
- Patched in
openclaw@2026.3.2.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "npm",
"name": "openclaw"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "2026.3.1"
},
{
"fixed": "2026.3.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
],
"versions": [
"2026.3.1"
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-29608"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-88"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-03-03T21:19:08Z",
"nvd_published_at": null,
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "### Summary\nIn `openclaw@2026.3.1`, node `system.run` approval-path hardening rewrote wrapper command argv in a way that changed execution semantics. A command shown/approved as a shell payload (for example `echo SAFE`) could execute a different local script when wrapper argv were rewritten.\n\n### Affected Packages / Versions\n- Package: `openclaw` (npm)\n- Affected: `2026.3.1` (latest published npm version as of March 2, 2026)\n- Fixed release: `2026.3.2` (released)\n\n### Technical Details\nRoot cause was in node-host approval hardening for `system.run`:\n- `src/node-host/invoke-system-run-plan.ts` rewrote `argv[0]` to the resolved executable.\n- Wrapper resolution unwrapped dispatch wrappers, so input like `[\u0027env\u0027,\u0027sh\u0027,\u0027-c\u0027,\u0027echo SAFE\u0027]` resolved executable `sh`.\n- The approved plan could become `[\u0027/bin/sh\u0027,\u0027sh\u0027,\u0027-c\u0027,\u0027echo SAFE\u0027]` while approval text remained `echo SAFE`.\n\nThat rewrite changed runtime behavior: `/bin/sh` interprets the extra `sh` positional argument as a script path, enabling execution of a local `./sh` file from approved `cwd` instead of the approved payload text.\n\n### Impact\nApproval-integrity break in `host=node` execution flow: operator-visible command text and executed behavior could diverge.\n\nExploit preconditions:\n- attacker can influence wrapper argv and place a local file in approved working directory,\n- operator grants approval for the displayed command.\n\n### Fix Commit(s)\n- `dded569626b0d8e7bdab10b5e7528b6caf73a0f1`\n\n### Fixed Version\n- Patched in `openclaw@2026.3.2`.",
"id": "GHSA-h3rm-6x7g-882f",
"modified": "2026-03-19T21:22:05Z",
"published": "2026-03-03T21:19:08Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-h3rm-6x7g-882f"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-29608"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/dded569626b0d8e7bdab10b5e7528b6caf73a0f1"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-approval-integrity-bypass-via-system-run-argv-rewriting"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "OpenClaw\u0027s Node system.run approval hardening wrapper semantic drift can execute unintended local scripts"
}
GHSA-H52G-P85J-FRQR
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 16:46 – Updated: 2022-10-11 19:00Incorrect command line processing in Chrome in Google Chrome prior to 73.0.3683.75 allowed a local attacker to perform domain spoofing via a crafted domain name.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-5804"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-88"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-05-23T20:29:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Incorrect command line processing in Chrome in Google Chrome prior to 73.0.3683.75 allowed a local attacker to perform domain spoofing via a crafted domain name.",
"id": "GHSA-h52g-p85j-frqr",
"modified": "2022-10-11T19:00:42Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T16:46:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5804"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2019/03/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_12.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://crbug.com/933004"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-06/msg00085.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-H5H8-PC6H-JVVX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-04-29 21:52 – Updated: 2022-08-11 00:19URLs for Mercurial repositories in the root composer.json and package source download URLs are not sanitized correctly. Specifically crafted URL values allow commands to be executed in the HgDriver if hg/Mercurial is installed on the system.
Impact
- The impact to Composer users directly is limited as the composer.json file is typically under their own control and source download URLs can only be supplied by third party Composer repositories they explicitly trust to download and execute source code from, e.g. Composer plugins.
- The main impact is to services passing user input to Composer, including Packagist.org and Private Packagist. This allowed users to trigger remote command injection. The vulnerability has been patched on Packagist.org and Private Packagist within 12h of receiving the initial vulnerability report and based on a review of logs, to the best of our knowledge, was not abused by anyone.
- Other services/tools using VcsRepository/VcsDriver or derivatives may also be vulnerable and should upgrade their composer/composer dependency immediately
Patches
1.10.22 and 2.0.13 include patches for this issue.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Packagist",
"name": "composer/composer"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.10.22"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Packagist",
"name": "composer/composer"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "2.0.0-alpha1"
},
{
"fixed": "2.0.13"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-29472"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-88",
"CWE-94"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2021-04-27T20:33:49Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2021-04-27T21:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "URLs for Mercurial repositories in the root composer.json and package source download URLs are not sanitized correctly. Specifically crafted URL values allow commands to be executed in the HgDriver if hg/Mercurial is installed on the system.\n\n### Impact\n- The impact to Composer users directly is limited as the composer.json file is typically under their own control and source download URLs can only be supplied by third party Composer repositories they explicitly trust to download and execute source code from, e.g. Composer plugins.\n- The main impact is to services passing user input to Composer, including Packagist.org and Private Packagist. This allowed users to trigger remote command injection. The vulnerability has been patched on Packagist.org and Private Packagist within 12h of receiving the initial vulnerability report and based on a review of logs, to the best of our knowledge, was not abused by anyone.\n- Other services/tools using VcsRepository/VcsDriver or derivatives may also be vulnerable and should upgrade their composer/composer dependency immediately\n\n### Patches\n1.10.22 and 2.0.13 include patches for this issue.",
"id": "GHSA-h5h8-pc6h-jvvx",
"modified": "2022-08-11T00:19:18Z",
"published": "2021-04-29T21:52:04Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/composer/composer/security/advisories/GHSA-h5h8-pc6h-jvvx"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29472"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://blog.sonarsource.com/php-supply-chain-attack-on-composer"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://getcomposer.org"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/FriendsOfPHP/security-advisories/blob/master/composer/composer/CVE-2021-29472.yaml"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/composer/composer"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/05/msg00009.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FAQUAMGO4Q4BLNZ2OH4CXQD7UK4IO2GE"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/KN3DMFH42BJW45VT6FYF2RXKC26D6VC2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4907"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Composer\u0027s missing argument delimiter can lead to code execution via VCS repository URLs or source download URLs on systems with Mercurial"
}
GHSA-H899-2P3M-3GM2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-06-18 00:00 – Updated: 2022-06-29 00:00paymentrequest.py in Electrum before 4.2.2 allows a file:// URL in the r parameter of a payment request (e.g., within QR code data). On Windows, this can lead to capture of credentials over SMB. On Linux and UNIX, it can lead to a denial of service by specifying the /dev/zero filename.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-31246"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-88"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-06-17T14:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "paymentrequest.py in Electrum before 4.2.2 allows a file:// URL in the r parameter of a payment request (e.g., within QR code data). On Windows, this can lead to capture of credentials over SMB. On Linux and UNIX, it can lead to a denial of service by specifying the /dev/zero filename.",
"id": "GHSA-h899-2p3m-3gm2",
"modified": "2022-06-29T00:00:29Z",
"published": "2022-06-18T00:00:26Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/security/advisories/GHSA-4fh4-hx35-r355"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-31246"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://twitter.com/ElectrumWallet/status/1534540879905665028"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-H8C3-8522-VXC6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-04-04 00:00 – Updated: 2022-04-13 00:00BusyBox through 1.35.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code if netstat is used to print a DNS PTR record's value to a VT compatible terminal. Alternatively, the attacker could choose to change the terminal's colors.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-28391"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-88"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-04-03T21:15:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "BusyBox through 1.35.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code if netstat is used to print a DNS PTR record\u0027s value to a VT compatible terminal. Alternatively, the attacker could choose to change the terminal\u0027s colors.",
"id": "GHSA-h8c3-8522-vxc6",
"modified": "2022-04-13T00:00:50Z",
"published": "2022-04-04T00:00:54Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-28391"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.alpinelinux.org/aports/plain/main/busybox/0001-libbb-sockaddr2str-ensure-only-printable-characters-.patch"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://git.alpinelinux.org/aports/plain/main/busybox/0002-nslookup-sanitize-all-printed-strings-with-printable.patch"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/aports/-/issues/13661"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-H8Q3-G2VJ-75C6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-06-12 06:33 – Updated: 2026-06-12 06:33Argument injection vulnerability in WordPress Toolkit before 6.11.0 as used in cPanel & WHM, allows remote authenticated users to bypass cross-tenant authorization and execute arbitrary wp-toolkit CLI commands as another account.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-47365"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-88"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-06-12T04:17:05Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "Argument injection vulnerability in WordPress Toolkit before 6.11.0 as used in cPanel \u0026 WHM, allows remote authenticated users to bypass cross-tenant authorization and execute arbitrary wp-toolkit CLI commands as another account.",
"id": "GHSA-h8q3-g2vj-75c6",
"modified": "2026-06-12T06:33:19Z",
"published": "2026-06-12T06:33:19Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-47365"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.cpanel.net/hc/en-us/articles/41004584983703-WP-Toolkit-CVE-2026-47365"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-H8WC-VPXJ-HG9W
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-05-03 03:31 – Updated: 2024-05-03 03:31Linux Mint Xreader CBT File Parsing Argument Injection Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Linux Mint Xreader. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of CBT files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied string before using it to execute a system call. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current user. Was ZDI-CAN-22132.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-44452"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-88"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-05-03T03:16:01Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Linux Mint Xreader CBT File Parsing Argument Injection Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Linux Mint Xreader. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.\n\nThe specific flaw exists within the parsing of CBT files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied string before using it to execute a system call. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current user. Was ZDI-CAN-22132.",
"id": "GHSA-h8wc-vpxj-hg9w",
"modified": "2024-05-03T03:31:05Z",
"published": "2024-05-03T03:31:05Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-44452"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/linuxmint/xreader/commit/cd678889ecfe4e84a5cbcf3a0489e15a5e2e3736"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-23-1836"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-HFM2-M84Q-6RC9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:46 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:46A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to inject arbitrary commands that are executed with root privileges on the underlying Linux operating system (OS) of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of commands that are supplied by the user. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to a device and submitting crafted input to an affected command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands on the underlying Linux OS with root privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-1485"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-88"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-04-08T04:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability in the CLI of Cisco IOS XR Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to inject arbitrary commands that are executed with root privileges on the underlying Linux operating system (OS) of an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of commands that are supplied by the user. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to a device and submitting crafted input to an affected command. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands on the underlying Linux OS with root privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-hfm2-m84q-6rc9",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:46:52Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:46:52Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1485"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-xr-cmdinj-vsKGherc"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-HJVR-2R84-CX23
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-01-08 18:30 – Updated: 2026-01-08 18:30A Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters vulnerability in Foomuuri can lead to integrity loss of the firewall configuration or further unspecified impact by manipulating the JSON configuration passed to nft.
This issue affects Foomuuri: from ? before 0.31.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-67858"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-88"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-01-08T16:15:47Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters vulnerability in Foomuuri can lead to integrity loss of the firewall configuration or further unspecified impact by manipulating the JSON configuration passed to `nft`.\nThis issue affects Foomuuri: from ? before 0.31.",
"id": "GHSA-hjvr-2r84-cx23",
"modified": "2026-01-08T18:30:49Z",
"published": "2026-01-08T18:30:49Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-67858"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2025-67858"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.opensuse.org/2026/01/07/foomuuri-lack-of-dbus-authorization.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
]
}
GHSA-HP66-FGRJ-W7FR
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-11 21:31 – Updated: 2026-03-11 21:31An input validation vulnerability was reported in the DeviceSettingsSystemAddin used in Lenovo Vantage and Lenovo Baiying that could allow a local authenticated user to delete arbitrary registry keys with elevated privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-1716"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-88"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-03-11T21:16:15Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "An input validation vulnerability was reported in the DeviceSettingsSystemAddin used in Lenovo Vantage and Lenovo Baiying that could allow a local authenticated user to delete arbitrary registry keys with elevated privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-hp66-fgrj-w7fr",
"modified": "2026-03-11T21:31:04Z",
"published": "2026-03-11T21:31:04Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-1716"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://iknow.lenovo.com.cn/detail/438815"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product_security/LEN-213044"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
]
}
Mitigation
Strategy: Parameterization
Where possible, avoid building a single string that contains the command and its arguments. Some languages or frameworks have functions that support specifying independent arguments, e.g. as an array, which is used to automatically perform the appropriate quoting or escaping while building the command. For example, in PHP, escapeshellarg() can be used to escape a single argument to system(), or exec() can be called with an array of arguments. In C, code can often be refactored from using system() - which accepts a single string - to using exec(), which requires separate function arguments for each parameter.
Mitigation
Strategy: Input Validation
Understand all the potential areas where untrusted inputs can enter your product: parameters or arguments, cookies, anything read from the network, environment variables, request headers as well as content, URL components, e-mail, files, databases, and any external systems that provide data to the application. Perform input validation at well-defined interfaces.
Mitigation MIT-5
Strategy: Input Validation
- Assume all input is malicious. Use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does.
- When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across related fields, and conformance to business rules. As an example of business rule logic, "boat" may be syntactically valid because it only contains alphanumeric characters, but it is not valid if the input is only expected to contain colors such as "red" or "blue."
- Do not rely exclusively on looking for malicious or malformed inputs. This is likely to miss at least one undesirable input, especially if the code's environment changes. This can give attackers enough room to bypass the intended validation. However, denylists can be useful for detecting potential attacks or determining which inputs are so malformed that they should be rejected outright.
Mitigation
Directly convert your input type into the expected data type, such as using a conversion function that translates a string into a number. After converting to the expected data type, ensure that the input's values fall within the expected range of allowable values and that multi-field consistencies are maintained.
Mitigation
- Inputs should be decoded and canonicalized to the application's current internal representation before being validated (CWE-180, CWE-181). Make sure that your application does not inadvertently decode the same input twice (CWE-174). Such errors could be used to bypass allowlist schemes by introducing dangerous inputs after they have been checked. Use libraries such as the OWASP ESAPI Canonicalization control.
- Consider performing repeated canonicalization until your input does not change any more. This will avoid double-decoding and similar scenarios, but it might inadvertently modify inputs that are allowed to contain properly-encoded dangerous content.
Mitigation
When exchanging data between components, ensure that both components are using the same character encoding. Ensure that the proper encoding is applied at each interface. Explicitly set the encoding you are using whenever the protocol allows you to do so.
Mitigation
When your application combines data from multiple sources, perform the validation after the sources have been combined. The individual data elements may pass the validation step but violate the intended restrictions after they have been combined.
Mitigation
Use dynamic tools and techniques that interact with the product using large test suites with many diverse inputs, such as fuzz testing (fuzzing), robustness testing, and fault injection. The product's operation may slow down, but it should not become unstable, crash, or generate incorrect results.
CAPEC-137: Parameter Injection
An adversary manipulates the content of request parameters for the purpose of undermining the security of the target. Some parameter encodings use text characters as separators. For example, parameters in a HTTP GET message are encoded as name-value pairs separated by an ampersand (&). If an attacker can supply text strings that are used to fill in these parameters, then they can inject special characters used in the encoding scheme to add or modify parameters. For example, if user input is fed directly into an HTTP GET request and the user provides the value "myInput&new_param=myValue", then the input parameter is set to myInput, but a new parameter (new_param) is also added with a value of myValue. This can significantly change the meaning of the query that is processed by the server. Any encoding scheme where parameters are identified and separated by text characters is potentially vulnerable to this attack - the HTTP GET encoding used above is just one example.
CAPEC-174: Flash Parameter Injection
An adversary takes advantage of improper data validation to inject malicious global parameters into a Flash file embedded within an HTML document. Flash files can leverage user-submitted data to configure the Flash document and access the embedding HTML document.
CAPEC-41: Using Meta-characters in E-mail Headers to Inject Malicious Payloads
This type of attack involves an attacker leveraging meta-characters in email headers to inject improper behavior into email programs. Email software has become increasingly sophisticated and feature-rich. In addition, email applications are ubiquitous and connected directly to the Web making them ideal targets to launch and propagate attacks. As the user demand for new functionality in email applications grows, they become more like browsers with complex rendering and plug in routines. As more email functionality is included and abstracted from the user, this creates opportunities for attackers. Virtually all email applications do not list email header information by default, however the email header contains valuable attacker vectors for the attacker to exploit particularly if the behavior of the email client application is known. Meta-characters are hidden from the user, but can contain scripts, enumerations, probes, and other attacks against the user's system.
CAPEC-460: HTTP Parameter Pollution (HPP)
An adversary adds duplicate HTTP GET/POST parameters by injecting query string delimiters. Via HPP it may be possible to override existing hardcoded HTTP parameters, modify the application behaviors, access and, potentially exploit, uncontrollable variables, and bypass input validation checkpoints and WAF rules.
CAPEC-88: 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.