CWE-77
Allowed-with-ReviewImproper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
Abstraction: Class · Status: Draft
The product constructs all or part of a command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended command when it is sent to a downstream component.
5397 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-65WW-RP43-H985
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-25 06:34 – Updated: 2024-11-25 06:34A vulnerability classified as critical was found in EnGenius ENH1350EXT, ENS500-AC and ENS620EXT up to 20241118. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /admin/network/diag_pinginterface. The manipulation of the argument diag_ping leads to command injection. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-11655"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-74",
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-25T05:15:09Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A vulnerability classified as critical was found in EnGenius ENH1350EXT, ENS500-AC and ENS620EXT up to 20241118. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /admin/network/diag_pinginterface. The manipulation of the argument diag_ping leads to command injection. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.",
"id": "GHSA-65ww-rp43-h985",
"modified": "2024-11-25T06:34:58Z",
"published": "2024-11-25T06:34:58Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-11655"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://k9u7kv33ub.feishu.cn/wiki/PpM6w3TF8ilK3Ek5RLqcLPUrn6c"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.285976"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.285976"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.446638"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
]
}
GHSA-65XX-C85X-WG76
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2020-09-04 17:20 – Updated: 2020-08-31 18:59All versions of plotter are vulnerable to Command Injection. The package fails to sanitize plot titles, which may allow attackers to execute arbitrary code in the system if the title value is supplied by a user. The following proof-of-concept creates a testing file in the current directory:
var plot = require('plotter').plot;
const title = 'Example "\nset title system("touch testing")#';
plot({
data: [ 3, 1, 2, 3, 4 ],
filename: 'output.pdf',
style: 'linespoints',
title: title,
logscale: true,
xlabel: 'time',
ylabel: 'length of string',
format: 'pdf'
});
Recommendation
No fix is currently available. Consider using an alternative package until a fix is made available.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "npm",
"name": "plotter"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0.0.0"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2020-08-31T18:59:26Z",
"nvd_published_at": null,
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "All versions of `plotter` are vulnerable to Command Injection. The package fails to sanitize plot titles, which may allow attackers to execute arbitrary code in the system if the title value is supplied by a user. The following proof-of-concept creates a `testing` file in the current directory:\n\n```\nvar plot = require(\u0027plotter\u0027).plot;\n\nconst title = \u0027Example \"\\nset title system(\"touch testing\")#\u0027;\n\nplot({\ndata: [ 3, 1, 2, 3, 4 ],\nfilename: \u0027output.pdf\u0027,\nstyle: \u0027linespoints\u0027,\ntitle: title,\nlogscale: true,\nxlabel: \u0027time\u0027,\nylabel: \u0027length of string\u0027,\nformat: \u0027pdf\u0027\n});\n\n```\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nNo fix is currently available. Consider using an alternative package until a fix is made available.",
"id": "GHSA-65xx-c85x-wg76",
"modified": "2020-08-31T18:59:26Z",
"published": "2020-09-04T17:20:52Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1441"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [],
"summary": "Command Injection in plotter"
}
GHSA-6629-6F9P-64X8
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-03-25 21:30 – Updated: 2023-03-30 21:30** DISPUTED ** A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Ubiquiti EdgeRouter X 2.0.9-hotfix.6. Affected is an unknown function of the component Static Routing Configuration Handler. The manipulation of the argument next-hop-interface leads to command injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The real existence of this vulnerability is still doubted at the moment. VDB-223302 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor position is that post-authentication issues are not accepted as vulnerabilities.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-1457"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-03-25T21:15:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "** DISPUTED ** A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Ubiquiti EdgeRouter X 2.0.9-hotfix.6. Affected is an unknown function of the component Static Routing Configuration Handler. The manipulation of the argument next-hop-interface leads to command injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The real existence of this vulnerability is still doubted at the moment. VDB-223302 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor position is that post-authentication issues are not accepted as vulnerabilities.",
"id": "GHSA-6629-6f9p-64x8",
"modified": "2023-03-30T21:30:21Z",
"published": "2023-03-25T21:30:18Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-1457"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.223302"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.223302"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-6632-C7X6-GXR7
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-03-19 00:00 – Updated: 2022-03-26 00:00Tenda AC9 v15.03.2.21 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the urls parameter in the saveparentcontrolinfo function.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-25433"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-03-18T21:15:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "Tenda AC9 v15.03.2.21 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the urls parameter in the saveparentcontrolinfo function.",
"id": "GHSA-6632-c7x6-gxr7",
"modified": "2022-03-26T00:00:41Z",
"published": "2022-03-19T00:00:49Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-25433"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/EPhaha/IOT_vuln/tree/main/Tenda/AC9/5"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-6632-VFQG-MX9F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-06-13 00:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 04:44Previous versions of HP Device Manager (prior to HPDM 5.0.10) could potentially allow command injection and/or elevation of privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-26296"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-06-12T22:15:09Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Previous versions of HP Device Manager (prior to HPDM 5.0.10) could potentially allow command injection and/or elevation of privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-6632-vfqg-mx9f",
"modified": "2024-04-04T04:44:38Z",
"published": "2023-06-13T00:30:41Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-26296"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_7974907-7974931-16/hpsbhf03842"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-6635-C626-VJ4R
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-04-01 14:05 – Updated: 2024-05-20 21:29URLs and local file paths passed to the Mercurial (hg) APIs that are specially crafted can contain commands which are executed by Mercurial if it is installed on the host operating system. The vcs package uses the underly version control system, in this case hg, to implement the needed functionality. When hg is executed, argument strings are passed to hg in a way that additional flags can be set. The additional flags can be used to perform a command injection. Other version control systems with an implemented interface may also be vulnerable. The issue has been fixed in version 1.13.2. A work around is to sanitize data passed to the vcs package APIs to ensure it does not contain commands or unexpected data. This is important for user input data that is passed directly to the package APIs.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/Masterminds/vcs"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.13.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-21235"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77",
"CWE-88"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2022-04-01T14:05:33Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2022-04-01T16:15:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "URLs and local file paths passed to the Mercurial (hg) APIs that are specially crafted can contain commands which are executed by Mercurial if it is installed on the host operating system. The `vcs` package uses the underly version control system, in this case `hg`, to implement the needed functionality. When `hg` is executed, argument strings are passed to `hg` in a way that additional flags can be set. The additional flags can be used to perform a command injection. Other version control systems with an implemented interface may also be vulnerable. The issue has been fixed in version 1.13.2. A work around is to sanitize data passed to the `vcs` package APIs to ensure it does not contain commands or unexpected data. This is important for user input data that is passed directly to the package APIs.",
"id": "GHSA-6635-c626-vj4r",
"modified": "2024-05-20T21:29:38Z",
"published": "2022-04-01T14:05:33Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Masterminds/vcs/security/advisories/GHSA-6635-c626-vj4r"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-21235"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Masterminds/vcs/pull/105"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Masterminds/vcs/commit/922a5122330ea8fbe56352a0172ddb6bf019cd22"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/Masterminds/vcs"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Masterminds/vcs/releases/tag/v1.13.2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-GOLANG-GITHUBCOMMASTERMINDSVCS-2437078"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Command Injection Vulnerability with Mercurial in VCS"
}
GHSA-663J-9VV5-MMF4
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-01-24 18:31 – Updated: 2025-06-20 21:31Command Injection vulnerability in Mathtex v.1.05 and before allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via crafted string in application URL.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-51887"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-01-24T17:15:08Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "Command Injection vulnerability in Mathtex v.1.05 and before allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via crafted string in application URL.",
"id": "GHSA-663j-9vv5-mmf4",
"modified": "2025-06-20T21:31:53Z",
"published": "2024-01-24T18:31:01Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-51887"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://blog.yulun.ac.cn/posts/2023/fuzzing-mathtex"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-664H-HPV9-FC9R
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:41 – Updated: 2022-08-06 00:00Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to inject arbitrary commands that are executed with root privileges. These vulnerabilities are due to improper validation of user-supplied input in the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending crafted HTTP requests to a targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code as the root user on the underlying operating system. To exploit these vulnerabilities, an attacker would need to have valid administrator credentials on an affected device.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-1316"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-20",
"CWE-77",
"CWE-78"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-02-04T17:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to inject arbitrary commands that are executed with root privileges. These vulnerabilities are due to improper validation of user-supplied input in the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending crafted HTTP requests to a targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code as the root user on the underlying operating system. To exploit these vulnerabilities, an attacker would need to have valid administrator credentials on an affected device.",
"id": "GHSA-664h-hpv9-fc9r",
"modified": "2022-08-06T00:00:38Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:41:02Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1316"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-rv-command-inject-BY4c5zd"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-665F-QP36-GP6G
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:01 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:01An exploitable command injection vulnerability exists in the DHCP daemon configuration of the CUJO Smart Firewall. When adding a new static DHCP address, its corresponding hostname is inserted into the dhcpd.conf file without prior sanitization, allowing for arbitrary execution of system commands. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can send a DHCP request message and set up the corresponding static DHCP entry.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-3963"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-74",
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-03-21T16:29:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "An exploitable command injection vulnerability exists in the DHCP daemon configuration of the CUJO Smart Firewall. When adding a new static DHCP address, its corresponding hostname is inserted into the dhcpd.conf file without prior sanitization, allowing for arbitrary execution of system commands. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can send a DHCP request message and set up the corresponding static DHCP entry.",
"id": "GHSA-665f-qp36-gp6g",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:01:51Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:01:51Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-3963"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2018-0627"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-669G-CWHP-9QG2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-04-01 00:00 – Updated: 2022-04-06 00:01totolink EX300_v2 V4.0.3c.140_B20210429 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the component process forceugpo.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-43664"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-03-30T23:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "totolink EX300_v2 V4.0.3c.140_B20210429 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the component process\u0026nbsp;forceugpo.",
"id": "GHSA-669g-cwhp-9qg2",
"modified": "2022-04-06T00:01:44Z",
"published": "2022-04-01T00:00:45Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-43664"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/chibataiki/iot-vuls/blob/main/totolink/command-injection2.md"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
Mitigation
If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
Mitigation
If possible, ensure that all external commands called from the program are statically created.
Mitigation MIT-5
Strategy: Input Validation
- Assume all input is malicious. Use an "accept known good" input validation strategy, i.e., use a list of acceptable inputs that strictly conform to specifications. Reject any input that does not strictly conform to specifications, or transform it into something that does.
- When performing input validation, consider all potentially relevant properties, including length, type of input, the full range of acceptable values, missing or extra inputs, syntax, consistency across related fields, and conformance to business rules. As an example of business rule logic, "boat" may be syntactically valid because it only contains alphanumeric characters, but it is not valid if the input is only expected to contain colors such as "red" or "blue."
- Do not rely exclusively on looking for malicious or malformed inputs. This is likely to miss at least one undesirable input, especially if the code's environment changes. This can give attackers enough room to bypass the intended validation. However, denylists can be useful for detecting potential attacks or determining which inputs are so malformed that they should be rejected outright.
Mitigation
Run time: Run time policy enforcement may be used in an allowlist fashion to prevent use of any non-sanctioned commands.
Mitigation
Assign permissions that prevent the user from accessing/opening privileged files.
CAPEC-136: LDAP Injection
An attacker manipulates or crafts an LDAP query for the purpose of undermining the security of the target. Some applications use user input to create LDAP queries that are processed by an LDAP server. For example, a user might provide their username during authentication and the username might be inserted in an LDAP query during the authentication process. An attacker could use this input to inject additional commands into an LDAP query that could disclose sensitive information. For example, entering a * in the aforementioned query might return information about all users on the system. This attack is very similar to an SQL injection attack in that it manipulates a query to gather additional information or coerce a particular return value.
CAPEC-15: Command Delimiters
An attack of this type exploits a programs' vulnerabilities that allows an attacker's commands to be concatenated onto a legitimate command with the intent of targeting other resources such as the file system or database. The system that uses a filter or denylist input validation, as opposed to allowlist validation is vulnerable to an attacker who predicts delimiters (or combinations of delimiters) not present in the filter or denylist. As with other injection attacks, the attacker uses the command delimiter payload as an entry point to tunnel through the application and activate additional attacks through SQL queries, shell commands, network scanning, and so on.
CAPEC-183: IMAP/SMTP Command Injection
An adversary exploits weaknesses in input validation on web-mail servers to execute commands on the IMAP/SMTP server. Web-mail servers often sit between the Internet and the IMAP or SMTP mail server. User requests are received by the web-mail servers which then query the back-end mail server for the requested information and return this response to the user. In an IMAP/SMTP command injection attack, mail-server commands are embedded in parts of the request sent to the web-mail server. If the web-mail server fails to adequately sanitize these requests, these commands are then sent to the back-end mail server when it is queried by the web-mail server, where the commands are then executed. This attack can be especially dangerous since administrators may assume that the back-end server is protected against direct Internet access and therefore may not secure it adequately against the execution of malicious commands.
CAPEC-248: Command Injection
An adversary looking to execute a command of their choosing, injects new items into an existing command thus modifying interpretation away from what was intended. Commands in this context are often standalone strings that are interpreted by a downstream component and cause specific responses. This type of attack is possible when untrusted values are used to build these command strings. Weaknesses in input validation or command construction can enable the attack and lead to successful exploitation.
CAPEC-40: Manipulating Writeable Terminal Devices
This attack exploits terminal devices that allow themselves to be written to by other users. The attacker sends command strings to the target terminal device hoping that the target user will hit enter and thereby execute the malicious command with their privileges. The attacker can send the results (such as copying /etc/passwd) to a known directory and collect once the attack has succeeded.
CAPEC-43: Exploiting Multiple Input Interpretation Layers
An attacker supplies the target software with input data that contains sequences of special characters designed to bypass input validation logic. This exploit relies on the target making multiples passes over the input data and processing a "layer" of special characters with each pass. In this manner, the attacker can disguise input that would otherwise be rejected as invalid by concealing it with layers of special/escape characters that are stripped off by subsequent processing steps. The goal is to first discover cases where the input validation layer executes before one or more parsing layers. That is, user input may go through the following logic in an application: <parser1> --> <input validator> --> <parser2>. In such cases, the attacker will need to provide input that will pass through the input validator, but after passing through parser2, will be converted into something that the input validator was supposed to stop.
CAPEC-75: Manipulating Writeable Configuration Files
Generally these are manually edited files that are not in the preview of the system administrators, any ability on the attackers' behalf to modify these files, for example in a CVS repository, gives unauthorized access directly to the application, the same as authorized users.
CAPEC-76: Manipulating Web Input to File System Calls
An attacker manipulates inputs to the target software which the target software passes to file system calls in the OS. The goal is to gain access to, and perhaps modify, areas of the file system that the target software did not intend to be accessible.