CVE-2024-39914 Overview
CVE-2024-39914 is a critical command injection vulnerability affecting FOG Project, an open-source cloning, imaging, rescue suite, and inventory management system. The vulnerability exists in the reportmaker.class.php file within the packages/web/lib/fog/ directory. Prior to version 1.5.10.34, the application fails to properly sanitize the filename parameter passed to /fog/management/export.php, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary operating system commands on the underlying server.
Critical Impact
This command injection vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on FOG Project servers, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within enterprise networks.
Affected Products
- FOG Project versions prior to 1.5.10.34
- fogproject fogproject (all installations using vulnerable versions)
- Systems running FOG Project web management interface
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-07-12 - CVE CVE-2024-39914 published to NVD
- 2025-09-29 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-39914
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-77 (Command Injection), a severe class of security flaws where user-controlled input is passed directly to system command execution functions without proper sanitization. The vulnerable component resides in the report generation functionality of FOG Project's web interface.
The attack surface is network-accessible, requiring no authentication or user interaction to exploit. Successful exploitation grants attackers the ability to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web server process, typically resulting in complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability compromise of the affected system.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input validation and sanitization of the filename parameter in the reportmaker.class.php file. The application constructs shell commands by directly concatenating user-supplied filename values without proper escaping, allowing shell metacharacters to break out of the intended command context and execute attacker-controlled commands.
Attack Vector
The vulnerability is exploited via network requests to the /fog/management/export.php endpoint. An attacker can craft a malicious filename parameter containing shell metacharacters and command sequences. When the FOG Project application processes this input to generate reports, the injected commands are executed on the underlying operating system.
The attack requires no prior authentication and can be initiated remotely, making it particularly dangerous for internet-facing FOG Project installations.
$filename = $this->_filename;
$htmlfile = sprintf(
'%s.html',
- $filename
+ escapeshellarg($filename)
);
$html = sprintf(
'<html><body>%s</body></html>',
Source: FOG Project Security Patch
The patch demonstrates the fix by wrapping the $filename variable with PHP's escapeshellarg() function, which properly escapes any shell metacharacters to prevent command injection.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-39914
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual HTTP requests to /fog/management/export.php containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &, `, $()) in the filename parameter
- Web server logs showing malformed or excessively long filename parameters in export requests
- Unexpected process spawning from the web server process (Apache/nginx worker processes)
- Unauthorized outbound network connections from the FOG Project server
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block command injection patterns in HTTP parameters targeting FOG Project endpoints
- Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) monitoring for anomalous process creation chains originating from web server processes
- Monitor system logs for unexpected command execution or privilege escalation attempts on FOG Project servers
- Utilize network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) to identify exploitation attempts based on known attack signatures
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging for the FOG Project web application and regularly review for suspicious activity
- Configure alerts for any access to /fog/management/export.php from external or untrusted IP addresses
- Monitor file system changes on the FOG Project server, particularly in web-accessible directories
- Implement baseline behavioral analysis for the FOG Project server to detect deviations indicative of compromise
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-39914
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade FOG Project to version 1.5.10.34 or later immediately
- Restrict network access to the FOG Project management interface to trusted administrative networks only
- Review web server and system logs for signs of prior exploitation attempts
- Implement network segmentation to isolate FOG Project servers from critical infrastructure
Patch Information
FOG Project has released version 1.5.10.34 which addresses this command injection vulnerability by implementing proper input sanitization using PHP's escapeshellarg() function. The fix is available in commit 2413bc034753c32799785e9bf08164ccd0a2759f.
For detailed information about the vulnerability and remediation, refer to the FOG Project Security Advisory and the security patch commit.
Workarounds
- If immediate patching is not possible, restrict access to the FOG Project web interface at the network level using firewall rules
- Implement a reverse proxy with WAF capabilities to filter malicious requests before they reach the FOG Project application
- Disable or restrict access to the report export functionality (/fog/management/export.php) until the patch can be applied
- Consider taking the FOG Project server offline temporarily if it is internet-facing and patching cannot be performed immediately
# Example: Restrict access to FOG management interface using iptables
# Allow access only from trusted admin network (adjust IP range as needed)
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
