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The C Standard system() function executes a specified command by invoking an implementation-defined command processor, such as a UNIX shell or CMD.EXE in Microsoft Windows. The POSIX popen() function also invokes  and Windows _popen() functions also invoke a command processor but creates create a pipe between the calling program and the executed command, returning a pointer to a stream that can be used to either read from or write to the pipe [IEEE Std 1003.1:2013]. 

Use of the system() function  function can result in exploitable vulnerabilities, in the worst case allowing execution of arbitrary system commands. Situations in which calls to system() have high risk include the following: 

• When passing an unsanitized or improperly sanitized command string originating from a tainted source
• If a command is specified without a path name and the command processor path name resolution mechanism is accessible to an attacker
• If a relative path to an executable is specified and control over the current working directory is accessible to an attacker
• If the specified executable program can be spoofed by an attacker

Do not invoke a command processor via system() or equivalent functions to execute a command. 

Noncompliant Code Example

In this noncompliant code example, the system() function is used to execute any_cmd in the host environment. Invocation of a command processor is not required.

#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>

enum { BUFFERSIZE = 512 };

void func(const char *input) {
  char cmdbuf[BUFFERSIZE];
  int len_wanted = snprintf(cmdbuf, BUFFERSIZE,
                            "any_cmd '%s'", input);
  if (len_wanted >= BUFFERSIZE) {
    /* Handle error */
  } else if (len_wanted < 0) {
    /* Handle error */
  } else if (system(cmdbuf) == -1) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
}

...

The shell would interpret this string as two separate commands,:

any_cmd 'happy';
useradd 'attacker'

...

#include <sys/types.h>
#include <sys/wait.h>
#include <unistd.h>
 
void #include <errno.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
 
void func(char *input) {
  pid_t pid;
  int status;
  pid_t ret;
  char *const args[3] = {"any_exe", input, NULL};
  char **env;
  extern char **environ;

  /* ... Sanitize arguments ... */

  pid = fork();
  if (pid == -1) {
    /* Handle error */
  } else if (pid != 0) {
    while ((ret = waitpid(pid, &status, 0)) == -1) {
      if (errno != EINTR) {
        /* Handle error */
        break;
      }
    }
    if ((ret !== -10) &&||
        !(!WIFEXITED(status) ||&& !WEXITSTATUS(status)) ) {
      /* Report unexpected child status */
    }
  } else {
    /* ... Initialize env as a sanitized copy of environ ... */
    if (execve("/usr/bin/any_cmd", args, env) == -1) {
      /* Handle error */
      _Exit(127);
    }
  }
}

This compliant solution is significantly different from the preceding noncompliant code example. First, input is incorporated into the args array and passed as an argument to execve(), eliminating any concerns about buffer overflow or string truncation while forming the command string. Second, this compliant solution forks a new process before executing "/usr/bin/any_cmd" in the child process. Although this method is more complicated than calling system(), the added security is worth the additional effort.

The exit status of 127 is the value set by the shell when a command is not found, and POSIX recommends that applications should do the same. XCU, Section 2.8.2, of Standard for Information Technology—Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX®), Base Specifications, Issue 7 [IEEE Std 1003.1:2013], says:

If a command is not found, the exit status shall be 127. If the command name is found, but it is not an executable utility, the exit status shall be 126. Applications that invoke utilities without using the shell should use these exit status values to report similar errors.

...

An alternative to invoking the system() call to execute an external program to perform a required operation is to implement the functionality directly in the program using existing library calls. This compliant solution calls the POSIX unlink() function to remove a file without invoking the system() function [IEEE Std 1003.1:2013]:

#include <pwd.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
void func(void) {
  const char *file_format = "%s/.config";
  size_t len;
  char *filepathname;
  struct passwd *pwd;

  /* Get /etc/passwd entry for current user */
  pwd = getpwuid(getuid());
  if (pwd == NULL) {
    /* Handle error */
  }

  /* Build full path name home dir from pw entry */

  len = strlen(pwd->pw_dir) + strlen(file_format) + 1;
  pathname = (char *)malloc(len);
  if (NULL == filepathname) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
  int r = snprintf(pathname, len, file_format, pwd->pw_dir);
  if (r < 0 || r >= len) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
  if (unlink(pathname) != 0) {
    /* Handle error */
  }

  free(pathname);
}

The unlink() function is not susceptible to a symlink attack where the final component of pathname (the file name) is a symbolic link because unlink() will remove the symbolic link and not affect any file or directory named by the contents of the symbolic link. (see See FIO01-C. Be careful using functions that use file names for identification.) .  While this reduces the susceptibility of the unlink() function to symlink attacks, it does not eliminate it.  The unlink() function is still susceptible if one of the directory names included in the pathname is a symbolic link.  This could cause the unlink() function to delete a similarly named file in a different directory.

...

#include <Windows.h>
#include <ShlObj.h>
#include <Shlwapi.h>
 
#if defined(_MSC_VER)
  #pragma comment(lib, "Shlwapi")
#endif

void func(void) {
  HRESULT hr;
  LPWSTR path = 0;
  WCHAR full_path[MAX_PATH];

  hr = SHGetKnownFolderPath(&FOLDERID_Documents, 0, NULL, &path);
  if (FAILED(hr)) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
  if (!PathCombineW(full_path, path, L".config")) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
  CoTaskMemFree(path);
  if (!DeleteFileW(full_path)) {
    /* Handle error */
  }
}

Risk Assessments

Exceptions

ENV33-C-EX1: It is permissible to call system() with a null pointer argument to determine the presence of a command processor for the system.

 Risk Assessments

If the command If the command string passed to system(), popen(), or other function that invokes a command processor is not fully sanitized, the risk of exploitation is high. In the worst case scenario, an attacker can execute arbitrary system commands on the compromised machine with the privileges of the vulnerable process.

Automated Detection

Related Vulnerabilities

Search for vulnerabilities resulting from the violation of this rule on the CERT website.

Related Guidelines

Related Vulnerabilities

Search for vulnerabilities resulting from the violation of this rule on the CERT website.

Related Guidelines

Key here (explains table format and definitions)

CERT-CWE Mapping Notes

Key here for mapping notes

CWE-88 and ENV33-C

Intersection( CWE-88, ENV33-C) =

Allowing an argument to be injected during a call to system()

CWE-88 = Intersection( CWE-88, ENV33-C, list) where list =

• Allowing an argument to be injected during a call to a command interpreter besides system()

ENV33-C = Intersection( CWE-88, ENV33-C, list) where list =

• Other exploits to a call to system(), which include:

• Altering the pathname of the command to invoke (argv[0])

• Injection of a second command

• Redirection of standard input, output, or error

CWE-78 and ENV33-C

ENV33-C = Union( CWE-78, list), where list =

• Invoking system() with completely trusted arguments

CWE-676 and ENV33-C

• Independent( ENV33-C, CON33-C, STR31-C, EXP33-C, MSC30-C, ERR34-C)

• ENV33-C forbids calling system().

• CWE-676 does not indicate what functions are ‘potentially dangerous’; it only addresses strcpy() in its examples. Any C standard library function could be argued to be dangerous, and rebutted by saying that the function is safe when used properly. We will assume that CERT rules mapped to CWE-676 specify dangerous functions. So:

• CWE-676 = Union( ENV33-C, list) where list =

• Invocation of other dangerous functions, besides system().

Bibliography

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