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.
5389 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-Q928-658M-3CCV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:11 – Updated: 2024-02-27 21:31A vulnerability in Pulse Connect Secure before 9.1R12 could allow an authenticated administrator to perform command injection via an unsanitized web parameter.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-22935"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-08-16T19:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability in Pulse Connect Secure before 9.1R12 could allow an authenticated administrator to perform command injection via an unsanitized web parameter.",
"id": "GHSA-q928-658m-3ccv",
"modified": "2024-02-27T21:31:24Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:11:15Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22935"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Security_Advisories/SA44858/?kA23Z000000L6oySAC"
}
],
"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-Q937-M2FX-R449
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:38 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:38Eval injection vulnerability in xdg-utils 1.1.0 RC1, when no supported desktop environment is identified, allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via the URL argument to xdg-open.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2014-9622"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2015-01-21T18:59:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Eval injection vulnerability in xdg-utils 1.1.0 RC1, when no supported desktop environment is identified, allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via the URL argument to xdg-open.",
"id": "GHSA-q937-m2fx-r449",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:38:54Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:38:54Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-9622"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=66670"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=472888"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-09"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2014/Nov/36"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://secunia.com/advisories/62155"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.debian.org/security/2015/dsa-3131"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/01/17/10"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/71284"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-Q967-XXCC-WWCX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-08-11 00:00 – Updated: 2022-08-16 00:00WAVLINK WN572HP3, WN533A8, WN530H4, WN535G3, WN531P3 firewall.cgi has no filtering on parameter del_mac and parameter flag, which leads to command injection in page /cli_black_list.shtml.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-35523"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-08-10T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "WAVLINK WN572HP3, WN533A8, WN530H4, WN535G3, WN531P3 firewall.cgi has no filtering on parameter del_mac and parameter flag, which leads to command injection in page /cli_black_list.shtml.",
"id": "GHSA-q967-xxcc-wwcx",
"modified": "2022-08-16T00:00:31Z",
"published": "2022-08-11T00:00:18Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-35523"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/TyeYeah/othercveinfo/blob/main/wavlink/README.md#command-injection-occurs-when-adding-blacklist-in-wavlink-router-ac1200-page-cli_black_listshtml-in-firewallcgi"
}
],
"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-Q96V-VQRG-5R84
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-10-25 18:32 – Updated: 2023-11-01 18:30A vulnerability in the ClearPass Policy Manager web-based management interface allows remote authenticated users to run arbitrary commands on the underlying host. A successful exploit could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands as a non-privileged user on the underlying operating system leading to partial system compromise.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-43510"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-10-25T18:17:32Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A vulnerability in the ClearPass Policy Manager web-based\u00a0management interface allows remote authenticated users to\u00a0run arbitrary commands on the underlying host. A successful\u00a0exploit could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary\u00a0commands as a non-privileged user on the underlying\u00a0operating system leading to partial system compromise.",
"id": "GHSA-q96v-vqrg-5r84",
"modified": "2023-11-01T18:30:30Z",
"published": "2023-10-25T18:32:23Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-43510"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2023-016.txt"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
GHSA-Q97X-M57P-R684
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-08-03 18:30 – Updated: 2024-08-03 18:30** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** A vulnerability was found in Vivotek SD9364 VVTK-0103f. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function getenv of the file upload_file.cgi. The manipulation of the argument QUERY_STRING leads to command injection. The attack may be initiated remotely. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-273527. NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer. NOTE: Vendor was contacted early and confirmed that the affected release tree is end-of-life.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-7442"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-08-03T18:15:35Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** A vulnerability was found in Vivotek SD9364 VVTK-0103f. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function getenv of the file upload_file.cgi. The manipulation of the argument QUERY_STRING leads to command injection. The attack may be initiated remotely. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-273527. NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer. NOTE: Vendor was contacted early and confirmed that the affected release tree is end-of-life.",
"id": "GHSA-q97x-m57p-r684",
"modified": "2024-08-03T18:30:34Z",
"published": "2024-08-03T18:30:34Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-7442"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.273527"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.273527"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.383843"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://yjz233.notion.site/vivotek-SD9364-has-command-injection-vulnerability-in-upload_file-cgi-5cef6da27b25479497dda0b73670f565?pvs=4"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/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-Q99J-QX5R-8MF7
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-03-06 18:31 – Updated: 2025-03-06 18:31SeaCMS v13.3 was discovered to contain a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability via the component admin_files.php.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-25813"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-02-26T15:15:28Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "SeaCMS v13.3 was discovered to contain a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability via the component admin_files.php.",
"id": "GHSA-q99j-qx5r-8mf7",
"modified": "2025-03-06T18:31:03Z",
"published": "2025-03-06T18:31:03Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-25813"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Ka7arotto/Seacms/blob/main/Seacms13.3-rce-5.md"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.seacms.com"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seacms.com"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-Q99M-QCV4-FPM7
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-10-18 06:30 – Updated: 2025-03-14 20:26The SQL Expressions experimental feature of Grafana allows for the evaluation of duckdb queries containing user input. These queries are insufficiently sanitized before being passed to duckdb, leading to a command injection and local file inclusion vulnerability. Any user with the VIEWER or higher permission is capable of executing this attack. The duckdb binary must be present in Grafana's $PATH for this attack to function; by default, this binary is not installed in Grafana distributions.
{
"affected": [
{
"database_specific": {
"last_known_affected_version_range": "\u003c= 11.0.6"
},
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/grafana/grafana"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "11.0.0"
},
{
"fixed": "11.0.6+security-01"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"database_specific": {
"last_known_affected_version_range": "\u003c= 11.1.7"
},
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/grafana/grafana"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "11.1.0"
},
{
"fixed": "11.1.7+security-01"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"database_specific": {
"last_known_affected_version_range": "\u003c= 11.2.2"
},
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/grafana/grafana"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "11.2.0"
},
{
"fixed": "11.2.2+security-01"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-9264"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77",
"CWE-94"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2024-10-25T14:13:42Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2024-10-18T04:15:04Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "The SQL Expressions experimental feature of Grafana allows for the evaluation of `duckdb` queries containing user input. These queries are insufficiently sanitized before being passed to `duckdb`, leading to a command injection and local file inclusion vulnerability. Any user with the VIEWER or higher permission is capable of executing this attack. The `duckdb` binary must be present in Grafana\u0027s $PATH for this attack to function; by default, this binary is not installed in Grafana distributions.",
"id": "GHSA-q99m-qcv4-fpm7",
"modified": "2025-03-14T20:26:23Z",
"published": "2024-10-18T06:30:32Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-9264"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/grafana/grafana/pull/81666"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/grafana/grafana"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://grafana.com/blog/2024/10/17/grafana-security-release-critical-severity-fix-for-cve-2024-9264"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://grafana.com/security/security-advisories/cve-2024-9264"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20250314-0007"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/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"
}
],
"summary": "Grafana Command Injection And Local File Inclusion Via Sql Expressions"
}
GHSA-Q9C5-4G2G-C25M
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-12-11 12:30 – Updated: 2025-12-11 12:30A command injection vulnerability was discovered in TeamViewer DEX (former 1E DEX), specifically within the 1E-Nomad-PauseNomadJobQueue instruction prior V25. Improper input validation, allowing authenticated attackers with Actioner privileges to inject arbitrary commands. Exploitation enables remote execution of elevated commands on devices connected to the platform.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-64992"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-20",
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-12-11T12:16:26Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A command injection vulnerability was discovered in TeamViewer DEX (former 1E DEX), specifically within the 1E-Nomad-PauseNomadJobQueue instruction prior V25. Improper input validation, allowing authenticated attackers with Actioner privileges to inject arbitrary commands. Exploitation enables remote execution of elevated commands on devices connected to the platform.",
"id": "GHSA-q9c5-4g2g-c25m",
"modified": "2025-12-11T12:30:28Z",
"published": "2025-12-11T12:30:28Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-64992"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.teamviewer.com/en/resources/trust-center/security-bulletins/tv-2025-1006"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-Q9CC-2Q3J-JFM7
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-05-06 15:30 – Updated: 2025-01-06 15:30D-Link DIR-845L router v1.01KRb03 and before is vulnerable to Command injection via the hnap_main()func.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-33112"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77",
"CWE-78"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-05-06T15:15:23Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "D-Link DIR-845L router v1.01KRb03 and before is vulnerable to Command injection via the hnap_main()func.",
"id": "GHSA-q9cc-2q3j-jfm7",
"modified": "2025-01-06T15:30:58Z",
"published": "2024-05-06T15:30:39Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-33112"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/yj94/Yj_learning/blob/b597925953d8bbb286a63f0019bb547c1617cb61/Week16/D-LINK-POC.md"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/yj94/Yj_learning/blob/main/Week16/D-LINK-POC.md"
}
],
"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-Q9CW-P99M-H9CM
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-01-10 12:30 – Updated: 2023-01-14 03:30A vulnerability has been identified in SINEC INS (All versions < V1.0 SP2 Update 1). An authenticated remote attacker with access to the Web Based Management (443/tcp) of the affected product, could potentially inject commands into the dhcpd configuration of the affected product. An attacker might leverage this to trigger remote code execution on the affected component.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-45094"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-77"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-01-10T12:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability has been identified in SINEC INS (All versions \u003c V1.0 SP2 Update 1). An authenticated remote attacker with access to the Web Based Management (443/tcp) of the affected product, could potentially inject commands into the dhcpd configuration of the affected product. An attacker might leverage this to trigger remote code execution on the affected component.",
"id": "GHSA-q9cw-p99m-h9cm",
"modified": "2023-01-14T03:30:22Z",
"published": "2023-01-10T12:30:23Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-45094"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-332410.pdf"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.