Description
Froxlor is open source server administration software. Prior to 2.3.4, a typo in Froxlor's input validation code (== instead of =) completely disables email format checking for all settings fields declared as email type. This allows an authenticated admin to store arbitrary strings in the panel.adminmail setting. This value is later concatenated into a shell command executed as root by a cron job, where the pipe character | is explicitly whitelisted. The result is full root-level Remote Code Execution. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.3.4.
EPSS Score:
0%
Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2026-9340
1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation
Vulnerability Description:
The vulnerability in Froxlor, an open-source server administration software, arises from a typo in the input validation code. Specifically, the use of == instead of = disables email format checking for settings fields declared as email type. This allows an authenticated admin to store arbitrary strings in the panel.adminmail setting, which is later concatenated into a shell command executed as root by a cron job. The pipe character | is explicitly whitelisted, leading to full root-level Remote Code Execution (RCE).
Severity Evaluation:
The CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) base score of 9.1 indicates a critical vulnerability. The vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H breaks down as follows:
- AV:N (Attack Vector: Network) - The vulnerability is exploitable over the network.
- AC:L (Attack Complexity: Low) - The attack requires minimal skill or resources.
- PR:H (Privileges Required: High) - The attacker needs high-level privileges (authenticated admin).
- UI:N (User Interaction: None) - No user interaction is required.
- S:C (Scope: Changed) - The vulnerability affects a different security scope.
- C:H (Confidentiality: High) - Complete loss of confidentiality.
- I:H (Integrity: High) - Complete loss of integrity.
- A:H (Availability: High) - Complete loss of availability.
2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods
Attack Vectors:
- Authenticated Admin Access: An attacker with admin credentials can exploit the vulnerability by injecting malicious strings into the
panel.adminmailsetting. - Cron Job Execution: The injected string is concatenated into a shell command executed by a cron job with root privileges, allowing for RCE.
Exploitation Methods:
- Arbitrary Command Execution: By injecting a string containing a pipe character
|followed by a malicious command, an attacker can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. - Persistent Backdoor: An attacker could inject a command that installs a backdoor, ensuring persistent access to the system.
3. Affected Systems and Software Versions
Affected Systems:
- Servers running Froxlor versions prior to 2.3.4.
Software Versions:
- Froxlor < 2.3.4
4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies
Immediate Actions:
- Update Software: Upgrade to Froxlor version 2.3.4 or later, which includes the fix for this vulnerability.
- Input Validation: Implement additional input validation checks to ensure that only valid email formats are accepted.
- Least Privilege: Ensure that cron jobs and other automated tasks run with the least privileges necessary.
Long-Term Strategies:
- Regular Audits: Conduct regular security audits and code reviews to identify and fix similar vulnerabilities.
- Monitoring: Implement monitoring and logging to detect and respond to suspicious activities.
- Access Control: Enforce strict access controls and regularly review admin accounts and permissions.
5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape
Regulatory Compliance:
- Organizations using Froxlor must ensure compliance with GDPR and other relevant regulations by promptly addressing this vulnerability to protect sensitive data.
- Non-compliance could result in legal and financial penalties.
Critical Infrastructure:
- Servers running Froxlor are often part of critical infrastructure, making this vulnerability a significant risk to operational continuity and data integrity.
Public Trust:
- Failure to address this vulnerability could erode public trust in the organization's ability to secure sensitive information.
6. Technical Details for Security Professionals
Code Analysis:
- Typo in Input Validation: The typo
==instead of=in the input validation code disables email format checking. - Whitelisted Characters: The pipe character
|is whitelisted, allowing for command injection.
Exploit Example:
panel.adminmail = "admin@example.com|rm -rf /"
This example demonstrates how an attacker could inject a command to delete all files on the system.
Patch Details:
- The fix in version 2.3.4 corrects the typo and ensures proper email format validation, preventing arbitrary string injection.
References:
Conclusion
The vulnerability in Froxlor prior to version 2.3.4 is critical and requires immediate attention. Organizations should prioritize updating to the patched version and implementing additional security measures to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The impact on the European cybersecurity landscape underscores the importance of prompt action to protect critical infrastructure and maintain regulatory compliance.