CVE-2024-44916 is a command injection vulnerability identified in the admin_ip.php script of Seacms version 13.1. Specifically, when the 'action' parameter is set to 'set', the application allows attackers with administrative privileges to control IP-related parameters that are subsequently written to the data/admin/ip.php file. This file write operation lacks sufficient input validation or sanitization, enabling attackers to inject malicious commands. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command), indicating that the system fails to properly neutralize special characters in inputs that are passed to system commands. Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to arbitrary command execution on the web server, potentially allowing attackers to execute system-level commands, escalate privileges, manipulate or exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt service availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.2, reflecting a high severity due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, required privileges (high), no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits are currently reported, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to any organization running Seacms v13.1 with administrative access exposed. The lack of available patches or mitigations at the time of publication increases the urgency for defensive measures.

The impact of CVE-2024-44916 is substantial for organizations using Seacms v13.1, especially those exposing administrative interfaces over the network. Successful exploitation allows attackers with administrative credentials to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying server, potentially leading to full system compromise. This can result in unauthorized data access or modification, service disruption, and use of the compromised server as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. Confidentiality is at risk due to potential data leakage, integrity is compromised by unauthorized changes, and availability can be affected by destructive commands or denial-of-service conditions. Organizations relying on Seacms for content management or web services may face operational downtime, reputational damage, and regulatory compliance issues if exploited. The requirement for high privileges limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, as insider threats or credential theft could enable exploitation.

To mitigate CVE-2024-44916, organizations should immediately restrict access to the admin_ip.php interface to trusted administrators only, ideally via network segmentation or VPN. Implement strong authentication mechanisms and monitor for suspicious administrative activity. Since no official patch is currently available, administrators should review and sanitize all inputs to the 'action=set' functionality, applying strict validation to IP parameters to prevent command injection. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block malicious payloads targeting this endpoint. Regularly audit and rotate administrative credentials to reduce the risk of credential compromise. Additionally, consider isolating the Seacms environment in a hardened container or virtual machine to limit the blast radius of any potential compromise. Stay alert for vendor updates or patches and apply them promptly once released. Conduct thorough logging and monitoring to detect any exploitation attempts early.