Apache server bug allows remote code execution

The existence of a “moderately critical” Apache HTTP Server vulnerability whose exploitation could allow attackers to compromise the system and execute arbitrary commands has been revealed by Secunia.

“The ‘do_rewritelog()’ function (modules/mappers/mod_rewrite.c) does not properly handle certain escape sequences when writing to the log file and can be exploited by sending a specially crafted HTTP request,” it is explained in the advisory published yesterday, meaning that in order for it to work, the user must view the log file in a terminal emulator.

According to the researchers, the mod_rewrite vulnerability affects 2.2.x versions of Apache and was first reported in version 2.2.24.

Luckily, the patch has already been provided, so administrators running any of the aforementioned affected versions might consider implementing it.