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9.8
motionEye: Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution
GHSA-qxvg-h7q2-hcxh
Summary
motionEye has a multi-stage vulnerability that allows attackers to execute code on the server without a password. This happens when a normal user's password is unset, or when an attacker gains access to the admin password hash. To protect yourself, update to the latest version of motionEye as soon as possible and ensure that all user passwords are set and secure.
What to do
- Update motioneye to version 0.44.0.
Affected software
| Ecosystem | Vendor | Product | Affected versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| pip | – | motioneye |
< 0.44.0 Fix: upgrade to 0.44.0
|
Original title
motionEye: LFI → pass‑the‑hash admin → unsafe restore → unauth action exec (RCE)
Original description
## Summary
A multi‑stage chain in motionEye leads to remote code execution. The chain combines:
1. **Arbitrary file read (LFI)** via the picture download endpoint for **local motion cameras** using absolute paths.
2. **Pass‑the‑hash admin auth** due to accepting request signatures computed with password hashes.
3. **Unsafe config restore** that extracts attacker‑controlled tarballs into `CONF_PATH`.
4. **Unauthenticated action execution** via `/action/<id>/<action>`.
If the **normal user password is unset**, the chain becomes **unauthenticated RCE**. If a normal password exists, a **normal user** can still achieve **admin escalation and RCE**.
---
## Affected Code (motionEye repo)
### 1) LFI (absolute path) — `picture/<id>/download`
**Files:**
- `motioneye/motioneye/handlers/picture.py` → `download()` (local motion camera branch)
- `motioneye/motioneye/mediafiles.py` → `get_media_content()`
**Issue:** `get_media_content()` only blocks `..` and then joins `target_dir` with `path`. Absolute paths (e.g. `/etc/hosts`) bypass the join and are read directly.
### 2) Pass‑the‑hash admin auth
**File:** `motioneye/motioneye/handlers/base.py` → `get_current_user()`
**Issue:** The signature check allows signatures computed using the **admin password hash** (SHA1) as the key. If the hash is leaked (via LFI), admin access can be obtained without the plaintext password.
### 3) Unsafe restore (tar extraction)
**File:** `motioneye/motioneye/config.py` → `restore()`
**Issue:** `tar zxC CONF_PATH` is used on user‑supplied data without sanitizing entries. A crafted tar can drop executable files into `CONF_PATH`.
### 4) Unauthenticated action execution
**File:** `motioneye/motioneye/handlers/action.py` → `post()`
**Issue:** No authentication decorator is present. It executes `<action>_<camera_id>` found in `CONF_PATH` with `subprocess.Popen`.
---
## Exploit Chain (Detailed)
1. **Create or find a local motion camera id** (local motion cameras are required for the vulnerable LFI path).
2. **LFI via picture download**:
- Request: `/picture/<id>/download/<absolute_path>`
- Example: `/picture/1/download/%2Fetc%2Fhosts`
- Result: Arbitrary file read.
3. **Read admin hash** from `/etc/motioneye/motion.conf`:
- Contains `@admin_password <SHA1_HASH>`.
4. **Pass‑the‑hash admin**:
- Compute signature for `/config/restore?_username=admin` using the **hash** as key.
- Admin access is accepted with hash‑based signatures.
5. **Restore malicious tar**:
- Upload a tar containing `lock_<id>` (or any action) as an executable.
- File is written into `CONF_PATH` by restore.
6. **Trigger unauth action**:
- POST `/action/<id>/lock`
- The server executes the injected file.
---
## Proof of Execution (Observed Output)
In local testing, the injected action created a marker file:
```
/tmp/meye_rce_ok
```
Verification command:
```
docker exec -it motioneye ls -la /tmp | grep meye_rce_ok
```
Example output:
```
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 ... /tmp/meye_rce_ok
```
---
## Preconditions / Requirements
- At least **one local motion camera** exists (e.g., `netcam_url`, `videodevice`).
- `picture/<id>/download` is reachable:
- **Unauth** if `@normal_password` is empty (default in some installs).
- **Auth required** if normal password is set (attacker needs normal creds).
---
## Impact
- **Unauth RCE** (normal password unset).
- **Authenticated RCE** (normal user → admin → RCE).
- Arbitrary file read on server filesystem.
- Full compromise of motionEye process account.
---
## Suggested Fixes
1. **Block absolute paths** in `get_media_content()` and `get_media_path()`.
2. **Remove hash‑based signature acceptance**; only accept signatures computed with plaintext passwords.
3. **Harden restore**: reject absolute paths, `..`, symlinks, non‑regular files.
4. **Require authentication** on `ActionHandler` (admin‑only).
A multi‑stage chain in motionEye leads to remote code execution. The chain combines:
1. **Arbitrary file read (LFI)** via the picture download endpoint for **local motion cameras** using absolute paths.
2. **Pass‑the‑hash admin auth** due to accepting request signatures computed with password hashes.
3. **Unsafe config restore** that extracts attacker‑controlled tarballs into `CONF_PATH`.
4. **Unauthenticated action execution** via `/action/<id>/<action>`.
If the **normal user password is unset**, the chain becomes **unauthenticated RCE**. If a normal password exists, a **normal user** can still achieve **admin escalation and RCE**.
---
## Affected Code (motionEye repo)
### 1) LFI (absolute path) — `picture/<id>/download`
**Files:**
- `motioneye/motioneye/handlers/picture.py` → `download()` (local motion camera branch)
- `motioneye/motioneye/mediafiles.py` → `get_media_content()`
**Issue:** `get_media_content()` only blocks `..` and then joins `target_dir` with `path`. Absolute paths (e.g. `/etc/hosts`) bypass the join and are read directly.
### 2) Pass‑the‑hash admin auth
**File:** `motioneye/motioneye/handlers/base.py` → `get_current_user()`
**Issue:** The signature check allows signatures computed using the **admin password hash** (SHA1) as the key. If the hash is leaked (via LFI), admin access can be obtained without the plaintext password.
### 3) Unsafe restore (tar extraction)
**File:** `motioneye/motioneye/config.py` → `restore()`
**Issue:** `tar zxC CONF_PATH` is used on user‑supplied data without sanitizing entries. A crafted tar can drop executable files into `CONF_PATH`.
### 4) Unauthenticated action execution
**File:** `motioneye/motioneye/handlers/action.py` → `post()`
**Issue:** No authentication decorator is present. It executes `<action>_<camera_id>` found in `CONF_PATH` with `subprocess.Popen`.
---
## Exploit Chain (Detailed)
1. **Create or find a local motion camera id** (local motion cameras are required for the vulnerable LFI path).
2. **LFI via picture download**:
- Request: `/picture/<id>/download/<absolute_path>`
- Example: `/picture/1/download/%2Fetc%2Fhosts`
- Result: Arbitrary file read.
3. **Read admin hash** from `/etc/motioneye/motion.conf`:
- Contains `@admin_password <SHA1_HASH>`.
4. **Pass‑the‑hash admin**:
- Compute signature for `/config/restore?_username=admin` using the **hash** as key.
- Admin access is accepted with hash‑based signatures.
5. **Restore malicious tar**:
- Upload a tar containing `lock_<id>` (or any action) as an executable.
- File is written into `CONF_PATH` by restore.
6. **Trigger unauth action**:
- POST `/action/<id>/lock`
- The server executes the injected file.
---
## Proof of Execution (Observed Output)
In local testing, the injected action created a marker file:
```
/tmp/meye_rce_ok
```
Verification command:
```
docker exec -it motioneye ls -la /tmp | grep meye_rce_ok
```
Example output:
```
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 ... /tmp/meye_rce_ok
```
---
## Preconditions / Requirements
- At least **one local motion camera** exists (e.g., `netcam_url`, `videodevice`).
- `picture/<id>/download` is reachable:
- **Unauth** if `@normal_password` is empty (default in some installs).
- **Auth required** if normal password is set (attacker needs normal creds).
---
## Impact
- **Unauth RCE** (normal password unset).
- **Authenticated RCE** (normal user → admin → RCE).
- Arbitrary file read on server filesystem.
- Full compromise of motionEye process account.
---
## Suggested Fixes
1. **Block absolute paths** in `get_media_content()` and `get_media_path()`.
2. **Remove hash‑based signature acceptance**; only accept signatures computed with plaintext passwords.
3. **Harden restore**: reject absolute paths, `..`, symlinks, non‑regular files.
4. **Require authentication** on `ActionHandler` (admin‑only).
ghsa CVSS3.1
9.8
Vulnerability type
CWE-22
Path Traversal
CWE-269
Improper Privilege Management
CWE-306
Missing Authentication for Critical Function
CWE-347
Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
CWE-434
Unrestricted File Upload
Published: 23 Jun 2026 · Updated: 23 Jun 2026 · First seen: 23 Jun 2026