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Capec-23 Detail
File Content Injection
Standard Software Likelihood: High Typical Severity: Very High
Parents: 242
Children: 44
Threats: T290
An adversary poisons files with a malicious payload (targeting the file systems accessible by the target software), which may be passed through by standard channels such as via email, and standard web content like PDF and multimedia files. The adversary exploits known vulnerabilities or handling routines in the target processes, in order to exploit the host's trust in executing remote content, including binary files.
Vulnerabilities of this type have been found in a wide variety of commercial applications from Microsoft Office to Adobe Acrobat and Apple Safari web browser. When the adversary knows the standard handling routines and can identify vulnerabilities and entry points, they can be exploited by otherwise seemingly normal content. Once the attack is executed, the adversary's program can access relative directories such as C:\Program Files or other standard system directories to launch further attacks. In a worst case scenario, these programs are combined with other propagation logic and work as a virus.
| External ID | Source | Link | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-23 | capec | https://capec.mitre.org/data/definitions/23.html | |
| CWE-20 | cwe | http://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/20.html | |
| REF-1 | reference_from_CAPEC | G. Hoglund, G. McGraw, Exploiting Software: How to Break Code, 2004--02, Addison-Wesley |
Not present
- The target software must consume files.
- The adversary must have access to modify files that the target software will consume.
Not present
| Medium |
|---|
| How to poison a file with malicious payload that will exploit a vulnerability when the file is opened. The adversary must also know how to place the file onto a system where it will be opened by an unsuspecting party, or force the file to be opened. |
| Integrity | Availability | Confidentiality |
|---|---|---|
| Execute Unauthorized Commands (Run Arbitrary Code) | Execute Unauthorized Commands (Run Arbitrary Code) | Execute Unauthorized Commands (Run Arbitrary Code) |
- PHP is a very popular language used for developing web applications. When PHP is used with global variables, a vulnerability may be opened that affects the file system. A standard HTML form that allows for remote users to upload files, may also place those files in a public directory where the adversary can directly access and execute them through a browser. This vulnerability allows remote adversaries to execute arbitrary code on the system, and can result in the adversary being able to erase intrusion evidence from system and application logs.