CVE-2026-28774: IDC SFX Series SuperFlex RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2026-28774 Overview

An OS Command Injection vulnerability has been identified in the web-based Traceroute diagnostic utility of the International Datacasting Corporation (IDC) SFX Series SuperFlex Satellite Receiver Web Management Interface version 101. This critical security flaw allows an authenticated attacker to inject arbitrary shell metacharacters, such as the pipe (|) operator, into the flags parameter. Successful exploitation leads to the execution of arbitrary operating system commands with root privileges, providing complete system compromise.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can achieve full root-level command execution on affected satellite receiver devices through shell metacharacter injection in the Traceroute diagnostic utility.

Affected Products

• International Datacasting Corporation (IDC) SFX Series SuperFlex Satellite Receiver
• SFX Series Web Management Interface version 101
• Traceroute diagnostic utility component

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-04 - CVE-2026-28774 published to NVD
• 2026-03-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-28774

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command (OS Command Injection). The flaw exists within the web-based management interface's Traceroute diagnostic functionality, where user-supplied input in the flags parameter is passed directly to the underlying operating system shell without proper sanitization or validation.

The vulnerability allows authenticated users to break out of the intended command context by injecting shell metacharacters. Once injected, the attacker's arbitrary commands are executed with the same privileges as the web application process, which in this case operates with root-level access. This grants the attacker complete control over the affected satellite receiver device.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability combined with the low attack complexity makes it particularly dangerous in environments where these satellite receivers are deployed. While authentication is required, the ability to execute arbitrary commands as root represents a complete compromise of the affected system's confidentiality and integrity.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input validation and sanitization in the Traceroute diagnostic utility. The web management interface fails to properly neutralize shell metacharacters before passing user-supplied flags parameter values to the underlying operating system command interpreter. This allows attackers to inject command separators and additional shell commands that are then executed in the context of the root user.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed remotely over the network through the web management interface. An attacker must first authenticate to the device, then navigate to the Traceroute diagnostic utility. By crafting a malicious request that includes shell metacharacters (such as |, ;, &&, or backticks) within the flags parameter, the attacker can append arbitrary commands to the intended traceroute operation.

For example, an attacker could inject a pipe operator followed by a reverse shell command, effectively gaining interactive remote access to the device with root privileges. The attack requires no specialized tools beyond a web browser or HTTP client and does not require user interaction beyond the initial authentication.

Detailed technical information about this vulnerability can be found in the Abdul MHS Blog Vulnerability Post.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-28774

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests to the Traceroute diagnostic endpoint containing shell metacharacters such as |, ;, &&, ||, or backticks in the flags parameter
• Unexpected outbound network connections from satellite receiver devices
• New or modified files in system directories, particularly in /tmp, /var, or web application directories
• Unusual process spawning from the web server process, especially shell interpreters or network utilities

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block requests containing shell metacharacters in diagnostic utility parameters
• Monitor web server access logs for suspicious patterns in requests to the Traceroute endpoint
• Deploy network intrusion detection signatures to identify command injection attempts targeting IDC SFX Series devices
• Enable process monitoring on affected devices to detect anomalous child processes spawned by the web application

Monitoring Recommendations

• Continuously monitor network traffic to and from satellite receiver management interfaces for signs of exploitation
• Implement logging for all diagnostic utility usage and establish baseline behavioral patterns
• Set up alerts for any root-level command execution that originates from the web server process
• Review authentication logs for signs of credential stuffing or brute force attempts that may precede exploitation

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-28774

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the web management interface to trusted IP addresses only using firewall rules
• Review and audit all user accounts with access to the management interface, removing unnecessary access
• Monitor the Abdul MHS Blog Vulnerability Post for updates and additional mitigation guidance
• Consider disabling the Traceroute diagnostic utility if it is not operationally required

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is currently available for this vulnerability. Organizations should monitor International Datacasting Corporation's security advisories for firmware updates that address this command injection flaw. Until a patch is released, implementing compensating controls is essential to reduce exploitation risk.

Workarounds

• Implement network segmentation to isolate satellite receiver management interfaces from untrusted networks
• Use a jump host or VPN to limit direct network access to the web management interface
• Deploy a reverse proxy with input validation rules to filter malicious requests before they reach the device
• Implement strict authentication controls and multi-factor authentication where possible for management interface access
• Consider temporarily disabling the affected Traceroute diagnostic functionality if operationally feasible