# CVE-2013-2642: Command injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands on Sophos Web Appliance via shell metacharacters in specific parameters, particularly when using customized templates.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 18 Mar 2014
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7qf6-6hr2-26gq

## What is CVE-2013-2642?

CVE-2013-2642 is a critical command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 18 Mar 2014. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Sophos Web Appliance before 3.7.8.2 allows (1) remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the client-ip parameter to the Block page, when using the user_workstation variable in a customized template, and remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the (2) url parameter to the Diagnostic Tools functionality or (3) entries parameter to the Local Site List functionality.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-2642?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Sophos Web Appliance, Sophos Web Appliance Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2013-2642?

No fix has been published for CVE-2013-2642 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2013-2642 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-2642 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Sophos Web Protection Appliance 3.7.8.1 - Multiple Vulnerabilities (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2023-1671](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1671/): Sophos Web Appliance Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-6182](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6182/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-2849](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-2849/): Missing authorization in n/a (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2014-2850](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-2850/): Command injection in n/a (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2017-6412](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6412/): Auth bypass in n/a (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2013-2642 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2013-2642 is a critical command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 18 Mar 2014. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-2642 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2642/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2642/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-2642
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-2642
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-2642

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2642/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.