Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-77

Allowed-with-Review

Improper 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.

5414 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.

GHSA-54PJ-VXRG-8R9X

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-01-16 21:31 – Updated: 2025-01-22 18:31
VLAI
Details

Tenda AC18 V15.03.05.19 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the usbName parameter in the formSetSambaConf function.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2024-57583"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2025-01-16T21:15:17Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "Tenda AC18 V15.03.05.19 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the usbName parameter in the formSetSambaConf function.",
  "id": "GHSA-54pj-vxrg-8r9x",
  "modified": "2025-01-22T18:31:54Z",
  "published": "2025-01-16T21:31:02Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-57583"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/qijiale/Tenda/tree/main/10"
    }
  ],
  "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-54V7-GQCW-27WJ

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-11-20 18:31 – Updated: 2025-11-21 00:30
VLAI
Details

The read function in file thinkphp\library\think\template\driver\File.php in ThinkPHP 5.0.24 contains a remote code execution vulnerability.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2025-63888"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77",
      "CWE-98"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2025-11-20T18:15:50Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "The read function in file thinkphp\\library\\think\\template\\driver\\File.php in ThinkPHP 5.0.24 contains a remote code execution vulnerability.",
  "id": "GHSA-54v7-gqcw-27wj",
  "modified": "2025-11-21T00:30:21Z",
  "published": "2025-11-20T18:31:01Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-63888"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://gist.github.com/Master-0-0/0bf54cbb335b586b42b0db0db804e7aa"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.yuque.com/lcc316/df0kgm/mglhbxltgbmzfh2s"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-54W4-2F2P-F48H

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-07-26 00:01 – Updated: 2022-08-06 05:19
VLAI
Summary
deferred-exec Command Injection vulnerability
Details

A command injection vulnerability affects all versions of package deferred-exec. The injection point is located in line 42 in lib/deferred-exec.js

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "npm",
        "name": "deferred-exec"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "0"
            },
            {
              "last_affected": "0.3.1"
            }
          ],
          "type": "ECOSYSTEM"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2020-28438"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": true,
    "github_reviewed_at": "2022-08-06T05:19:00Z",
    "nvd_published_at": "2022-07-25T14:15:00Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "A command injection vulnerability affects all versions of package deferred-exec. The injection point is located in line 42 in lib/deferred-exec.js",
  "id": "GHSA-54w4-2f2p-f48h",
  "modified": "2022-08-06T05:19:00Z",
  "published": "2022-07-26T00:01:06Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-28438"
    },
    {
      "type": "PACKAGE",
      "url": "https://github.com/danheberden/deferred-exec"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/danheberden/deferred-exec/blob/master/lib/deferred-exec.js#L42"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-DEFERREDEXEC-1050433"
    }
  ],
  "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": "deferred-exec Command Injection vulnerability"
}

GHSA-54W5-95MR-M6MW

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-02-04 12:31 – Updated: 2026-02-04 12:31
VLAI
Details

This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system using the file name of an uploaded file.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2025-59818"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-02-04T11:16:01Z",
    "severity": "CRITICAL"
  },
  "details": "This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system using the file name of an uploaded file.",
  "id": "GHSA-54w5-95mr-m6mw",
  "modified": "2026-02-04T12:31:26Z",
  "published": "2026-02-04T12:31:25Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-59818"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://wiki.zenitel.com/wiki/Turbine_9.3_-_Release_notes"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://wiki.zenitel.com/wiki/VSF-Display_Series_9.3_Release_Notes"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://wiki.zenitel.com/wiki/VSF-Fortitude6_9.3_Release_Notes"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://wiki.zenitel.com/wiki/VSF-Fortitude8_9.3_Release_Notes"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://wiki.zenitel.com/wiki/ZIPS_9.3_-_Release_notes"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.zenitel.com/sites/default/files/2025-12/A100K12333%20Zenitel%20Security%20Advisory.pdf"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-54WP-F6VM-V42X

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-02-16 09:30 – Updated: 2026-02-16 09:30
VLAI
Details

A security flaw has been discovered in yued-fe LuLu UI up to 3.0.0. This issue affects the function child_process.exec of the file run.js. The manipulation results in os command injection. The attack can be launched remotely. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-2544"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-02-16T08:16:05Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "A security flaw has been discovered in yued-fe LuLu UI up to 3.0.0. This issue affects the function child_process.exec of the file run.js. The manipulation results in os command injection. The attack can be launched remotely. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.",
  "id": "GHSA-54wp-f6vm-v42x",
  "modified": "2026-02-16T09:30:30Z",
  "published": "2026-02-16T09:30:30Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-2544"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/lakshayyverma/CVE-Discovery/blob/main/lulu.md"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.346153"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.346153"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.749722"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    },
    {
      "score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/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-54XC-G42W-9WFF

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-23 18:33 – Updated: 2026-04-23 21:31
VLAI
Details

An issue was discovered in ToToLink A3300R firmware v17.0.0cu.557_B20221024 allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands via the informEnable parameter to /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-31174"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-04-23T18:16:24Z",
    "severity": "MODERATE"
  },
  "details": "An issue was discovered in ToToLink A3300R firmware v17.0.0cu.557_B20221024 allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands via the informEnable parameter to /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi.",
  "id": "GHSA-54xc-g42w-9wff",
  "modified": "2026-04-23T21:31:21Z",
  "published": "2026-04-23T18:33:04Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31174"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/Svigo-o/TOTOLINK-Vul/tree/main/totolink-a3300r-inform-enable-cmd-injection"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-555X-PQP3-GC3H

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:45 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:45
VLAI
Details

Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an authenticated user. This affects XR450 before 2.3.2.114, XR500 before 2.3.2.114, and WNR2000v5 before 1.0.0.76.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2021-29069"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2021-03-23T07:15:00Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an authenticated user. This affects XR450 before 2.3.2.114, XR500 before 2.3.2.114, and WNR2000v5 before 1.0.0.76.",
  "id": "GHSA-555x-pqp3-gc3h",
  "modified": "2022-05-24T17:45:07Z",
  "published": "2022-05-24T17:45:07Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29069"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://kb.netgear.com/000063023/Security-Advisory-for-Post-Authentication-Command-Injection-on-Some-Routers-PSV-2020-0595"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": []
}

GHSA-55CC-7HM8-3HR4

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-09-18 06:30 – Updated: 2025-09-18 18:30
VLAI
Details

The cbis_manager Podman container is vulnerable to remote command execution via the /api/plugins endpoint. Improper sanitization of the HTTP Headers X-FILENAME, X-PAGE, and X-FIELD allows for command injection. These headers are directly utilized within the subprocess.Popen Python function without adequate validation, enabling a remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system by crafting malicious header values within an HTTP request to the affected endpoint. The web service executes with root privileges within the container environment, the demonstrated remote code execution permits an attacker to acquire elevated privileges for the command execution. Restricting access to the management network with an external firewall can partially mitigate this risk.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2023-49565"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2025-09-18T06:15:34Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "The cbis_manager Podman container is vulnerable to remote command execution via the /api/plugins endpoint. Improper sanitization of the HTTP Headers X-FILENAME, X-PAGE, and X-FIELD allows for command injection. These headers are directly utilized within the subprocess.Popen Python function without adequate validation, enabling a remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system by crafting malicious header values within an HTTP request to the affected endpoint.\nThe web service executes with root privileges within the container environment, the demonstrated remote code execution permits an attacker to acquire elevated privileges for the command execution.\nRestricting access to the management network with an external firewall can partially mitigate this risk.",
  "id": "GHSA-55cc-7hm8-3hr4",
  "modified": "2025-09-18T18:30:26Z",
  "published": "2025-09-18T06:30:28Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-49565"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.nokia.com/about-us/security-and-privacy/product-security-advisory/CVE-2023-49565"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-55F4-6PV4-VW79

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-10-29 18:30 – Updated: 2025-10-30 21:30
VLAI
Details

SPH Engineering UgCS 5.13.0 is vulnerable to Arbitary code execution.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2025-60595"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2025-10-29T17:15:36Z",
    "severity": "HIGH"
  },
  "details": "SPH Engineering UgCS 5.13.0 is vulnerable to Arbitary code execution.",
  "id": "GHSA-55f4-6pv4-vw79",
  "modified": "2025-10-30T21:30:45Z",
  "published": "2025-10-29T18:30:34Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-60595"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/Clicksafeae/CVE-2025-60595/tree/main"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.sphengineering.com"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.4.0",
  "severity": [
    {
      "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N",
      "type": "CVSS_V3"
    }
  ]
}

GHSA-55JG-7RXJ-HH46

Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-05-11 06:31 – Updated: 2026-05-11 06:31
VLAI
Details

A vulnerability was identified in D-Link DNS-320 2.06B01. The impacted element is the function cgi_speed/cgi_dhcpd_lease/cgi_ddns/cgi_set_ip/cgi_upnp_del/cgi_dhcpd/cgi_upnp_add/cgi_upnp_edit of the file /cgi-bin/network_mgr.cgi. The manipulation leads to os command injection. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. The exploit is publicly available and might be used.

Show details on source website

{
  "affected": [],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-8271"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cwe_ids": [
      "CWE-77",
      "CWE-78"
    ],
    "github_reviewed": false,
    "github_reviewed_at": null,
    "nvd_published_at": "2026-05-11T05:16:16Z",
    "severity": "LOW"
  },
  "details": "A vulnerability was identified in D-Link DNS-320 2.06B01. The impacted element is the function cgi_speed/cgi_dhcpd_lease/cgi_ddns/cgi_set_ip/cgi_upnp_del/cgi_dhcpd/cgi_upnp_add/cgi_upnp_edit of the file /cgi-bin/network_mgr.cgi. The manipulation leads to os command injection. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. The exploit is publicly available and might be used.",
  "id": "GHSA-55jg-7rxj-hh46",
  "modified": "2026-05-11T06:31:33Z",
  "published": "2026-05-11T06:31:33Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "ADVISORY",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-8271"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/dxz0069/WAVLINK-WN530H4-Command-Injection-in-set_add_routing/blob/main/D-Link%20DNS-320%20network_mgr.cgi%20Multiple%20OS%20Command%20Injection%20Vulnerabilities.md"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/submit/810078"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/vuln/362568"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://vuldb.com/vuln/362568/cti"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://www.dlink.com"
    }
  ],
  "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:P/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"
    }
  ]
}

Mitigation
Architecture and Design

If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.

Mitigation
Implementation

If possible, ensure that all external commands called from the program are statically created.

Mitigation MIT-5
Implementation

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
Operation

Run time: Run time policy enforcement may be used in an allowlist fashion to prevent use of any non-sanctioned commands.

Mitigation
System Configuration

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.