AWStats: Arbitrary code execution using malicious Referrer information

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200508-07 / awstats
Release Date	August 16, 2005
Latest Revision	May 28, 2009: 02
Impact	high
Exploitable	remote

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
www-misc/awstats	< 6.5	>= 6.5	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #102145

Synopsis

AWStats fails to validate certain log input, which could lead to the execution of arbitrary Perl code during the generation of the statistics.

2. Impact Information

Background

AWStats is an advanced log file analyzer and statistics generator. In HTTP reports it parses Referrer information in order to display the most common Referrer values that caused users to visit the website.

Description

When using a URLPlugin, AWStats fails to sanitize Referrer URL data before using them in a Perl eval() routine.

Impact

A remote attacker can include arbitrary Referrer information in a HTTP request to a web server, therefore injecting tainted data in the log files. When AWStats is run on this log file, this can result in the execution of arbitrary Perl code with the rights of the user running AWStats.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

Disable all URLPlugins in the AWStats configuration.

Resolution

All AWStats users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=www-misc/awstats-6.5"

Note: Users with the vhosts USE flag set should manually use webapp-config to finalize the update.

4. References

Page updated August 16, 2005

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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