# CVE-2016-9553: Command injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary system commands on the Sophos Web Appliance via the web administrative interface due to improper input sanitization.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Jan 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-52hh-4qqc-mxwh

## What is CVE-2016-9553?

CVE-2016-9553 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 28 Jan 2017. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Sophos Web Appliance (version 4.2.1.3) is vulnerable to two Remote Command Injection vulnerabilities affecting its web administrative interface. These vulnerabilities occur in the MgrReport.php (/controllers/MgrReport.php) component responsible for blocking and unblocking IP addresses from accessing the device. The device doesn't properly escape the information passed in the variables 'unblockip' and 'blockip' before calling the shell_exec() function which allows for system commands to be injected into the device. The code erroneously suggests that the information handled is protected by utilizing the variable name 'escapedips' - however this was not the case. The Sophos ID is NSWA-1258.

Weakness: CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-9553?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Sophos Web Appliance.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-9553?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-9553 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-9553 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-9553 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Sophos Web Appliance 4.2.1.3 - block/unblock Remote Command Injection (Metasploit) (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-2013-2642](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2642/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [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)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-9553 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-9553 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 28 Jan 2017. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-9553 exists.

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-2016-9553/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9553/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-9553
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-9553
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-9553

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9553/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.