CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-43744NVD status: Modified

Mx-se Firmware: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command

CVE-2023-43744 is a high-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command vulnerability in Mx-se Firmware from Zultys, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 16.0.4, 17.0.10 as the first without the flaw, so updating Mx-se Firmware to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.99% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 81% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Mx-se Firmware to 16.0.4 or 17.0.10, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Mx-se Ii Firmware to 16.0.4 or 17.0.10, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  3. Update Mx-e Firmware to 16.0.4 or 17.0.10, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
ZultysMx-se Firmwarebefore 16.0.4; 17.0.6 up to, but not including, 17.0.1016.0.4, 17.0.10
ZultysMx-se Ii Firmwarebefore 16.0.4; 17.0.6 up to, but not including, 17.0.1016.0.4, 17.0.10
ZultysMx-e Firmwarebefore 16.0.4; 17.0.6 up to, but not including, 17.0.1016.0.4, 17.0.10
ZultysMx-virtual Firmwarebefore 16.0.4; 17.0.6 up to, but not including, 17.0.1016.0.4, 17.0.10
ZultysMx250 Firmwarebefore 16.0.4; 17.0.6 up to, but not including, 17.0.1016.0.4, 17.0.10
ZultysMx30 Firmwarebefore 16.0.4; 17.0.6 up to, but not including, 17.0.1016.0.4, 17.0.10

Version data comes from NVD's product matching. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Official description

An OS command injection vulnerability in Zultys MX-SE, MX-SE II, MX-E, MX-Virtual, MX250, and MX30 with firmware versions prior to 17.0.10 patch 17161 and 16.04 patch 16109 allows an administrator to execute arbitrary OS commands via a file name parameter in a patch application function. The Zultys MX Administrator client has a "Patch Manager" section that allows administrators to apply patches to the device. The user supplied filename for the patch file is passed to a shell script without validation. Including bash command substitution characters in a patch file name results in execution of the provided command.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command

The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
  • For any data that will be used to generate a command to be executed, keep as much of that data out of external control as possible. For example, in web applications, this may require storing the data locally in the session's state instead of sending it out to the client in a hidden form field.
  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.

More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities (CWE-78)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Other references

Other vulnerabilities in Mx-se Firmware

All Mx-se Firmware vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.