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10.0

Puppet Master WebUtil allows remote command execution

CVE-2008-6556 · published 17 years ago
Summary

The WebUtil component of Puppet Master can be tricked into running any system command by inserting special characters into a whois lookup. This could let an attacker take control of the server hosting the tool. Apply the vendor's update or disable the vulnerable script until it is patched.

What to do

The CVE record does not list a fixed version. Check the vendor's site or the advisory links below - a fix may already be released.

Affected software
VendorProductAffected versions
puppet_master webutil 2.3
cpe:2.3:a:puppet_master:webutil:2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Original advisory text
cgi-bin/webutil.pl in The Puppet Master WebUtil 2.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the whois command.
cgi-bin/webutil.pl in The Puppet Master WebUtil 2.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the whois command.
References
Fix within
Internet-facing 3 days
Internal 60 days
  • Not known to be exploited
  • Can be exploited automatically (estimated)
  • Gives an attacker full control (estimated)
Severity
10.0 Critical
Exploitation
3% chance of attack within 30 days
Type
CWE-20Improper Input Validation
Timeline
Published30 Mar 2009
Updated31 Oct 2026
First seen29 Sep 2026
Sources
CVE-2008-6556 · NVD
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