Command Injection is a type of attack in cybersecurity where an attacker injects malicious commands into the input variables of a system. These input variables are typically interpreted by an application or program and passed to the operating system to execute commands. A successful Command Injection attack allows the attacker to execute undesired commands, leading to various types of damage, such as:
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Executing system commands: The attacker can inject system commands to create, delete, or modify files, start or stop processes, perform network communication, or carry out other malicious actions.
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Stealing confidential information: By executing commands, the attacker can access confidential information stored on the affected system. This may include user accounts, passwords, sensitive files, and other critical data.
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Compromising the system: A successfully executed Command Injection attack can result in the attacker gaining full control over the affected system. This can lead to the installation of backdoors, takeover of administrator privileges, or execution of other malicious activities.
Command Injection attacks are commonly found in web applications, scripts, and other software applications that process user input and pass it to the operating system. To prevent such attacks, it is essential to thoroughly validate inputs, ensure that user data is not directly concatenated into commands, and implement security mechanisms such as using secure APIs and adhering to the principle of least privilege.
