Overview
CVE-2025-58098 describes a command injection vulnerability affecting Apache HTTP Server versions 2.4.65 and earlier. This vulnerability occurs when Server Side Includes (SSI) are enabled, and the mod_cgid module (but not mod_cgi) is in use. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject arbitrary commands through the query string, which is then executed by the server due to insufficient sanitization within the #exec cmd="..." SSI directive.
Technical Details
The core issue lies in how Apache HTTP Server handles the query string when SSI is enabled alongside mod_cgid. When processing the #exec cmd="..." directive, the server passes the query string to the command without proper sanitization or escaping. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious query string containing shell commands. Because mod_cgid is used instead of mod_cgi, there’s a specific code path that leads to the query string being interpreted in a less secure manner, resulting in the command injection.
For example, an attacker could construct a URL like this:
https://example.com/page.shtml?cmd=whoami;%20cat%20/etc/passwdIf the page.shtml file contains an SSI directive like <!--#exec cmd="echo '%QUERY_STRING%'" -->, the server will execute the injected commands (whoami and cat /etc/passwd) due to the improper handling of the %QUERY_STRING% variable.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, no CVSS score is available for CVE-2025-58098 (N/A). However, given the nature of the vulnerability (command injection), it poses a significant risk. The severity is likely to be HIGH due to the potential for complete system compromise.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-58098 can lead to:
- Remote Code Execution (RCE): Attackers can execute arbitrary commands on the server, potentially gaining full control.
- Data Breach: Attackers can access sensitive data stored on the server, including configuration files, databases, and user data.
- Denial of Service (DoS): Attackers can crash the server or overload it with malicious requests.
- Website Defacement: Attackers can modify website content.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
The recommended mitigation is to upgrade to Apache HTTP Server version 2.4.66 or later. This version contains the fix for CVE-2025-58098.
- Upgrade Apache HTTP Server: Follow the official Apache HTTP Server upgrade instructions for your operating system and distribution.
- Disable SSI (if not needed): If you are not using SSI, disable it in your Apache configuration. This will eliminate the attack vector.
- Use mod_cgi instead of mod_cgid (if possible): While not a direct solution, using
mod_cgiinstead ofmod_cgidavoids the vulnerable code path. However, assess ifmod_cgimeets your requirements. - Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a WAF with rules to detect and block malicious query strings.
