CVE-2020-18048
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2020-18048 is a command injection vulnerability in CraigMS 1.0 that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the server by entering malicious input into the DB Name field. This affects all users running CraigMS 1.0 with the vulnerable main.php file. Attackers can gain complete control of the affected system.
💻 Affected Systems
- CraigMS
📦 What is this software?
Craigms by Bertanddip
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands, install malware, exfiltrate data, pivot to other systems, or establish persistent backdoors.
Likely Case
Remote code execution leading to web server compromise, data theft, and potential lateral movement within the network.
If Mitigated
No impact if proper input validation and sanitization are implemented, or if the vulnerable component is not exposed.
🎯 Exploit Status
The vulnerability requires no authentication and has a simple exploitation path via the DB Name field. Public GitHub issues demonstrate the vulnerability.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Unknown - CraigMS appears to be abandoned/unmaintained
Vendor Advisory: None available
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Remove or disable CraigMS 1.0 entirely. 2. Replace with alternative software. 3. No official patch exists from the vendor.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation and Sanitization
allImplement strict input validation and sanitization for the DB Name field to prevent command injection.
# Example PHP input sanitization:
$db_name = escapeshellarg($_POST['db_name']);
# Or use parameterized queries if applicable
Remove/Disable Vulnerable Component
linuxRemove or disable the craigms/main.php file if not essential.
sudo rm /path/to/craigms/main.php
# Or rename the file:
sudo mv /path/to/craigms/main.php /path/to/craigms/main.php.disabled
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Network segmentation: Isolate CraigMS systems from critical networks and internet access
- Implement strict web application firewall (WAF) rules to block command injection patterns
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if CraigMS 1.0 is installed and if craigms/main.php exists and contains unsanitized input handling for the DB Name field.Check Version:
Check CraigMS version in configuration files or documentation. For PHP: grep -r 'CraigMS' /var/www/ or locate installation directory.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify that CraigMS is removed or that input validation has been implemented by testing with safe input and monitoring for command execution.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual commands in web server logs, especially in DB Name parameter
- Unexpected process execution from web server user
- Failed command execution attempts in error logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from web server
- Command and control traffic patterns
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND (db_name CONTAINS "|" OR db_name CONTAINS ";" OR db_name CONTAINS "`" OR db_name CONTAINS "$")