CVE-2001-0043 in phpGroupWare
Summary
by MITRE
phpGroupWare before 0.9.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP commands by specifying a malicious include file in the phpgw_info parameter of the phpgw.inc.php program.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0043 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in phpGroupWare versions prior to 0.9.7. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of the phpgw_info parameter within the phpgw.inc.php program, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary PHP code on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before using it in include statements.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a classic path traversal and code injection attack vector. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious request containing a specially formatted phpgw_info parameter, the application processes this input without sufficient validation, allowing the attacker to specify an arbitrary include file. This flaw directly maps to CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and specifically addresses the dangerous practice of incorporating untrusted data into executable code contexts. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary PHP commands with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with extensive capabilities to manipulate the target system. Successful exploitation allows threat actors to access sensitive data, modify system configurations, install backdoors, or establish persistent access through the compromised web application. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected phpGroupWare installations, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on this groupware solution for business operations. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell," though in this case the execution occurs through PHP rather than PowerShell, demonstrating the broader category of code injection attacks that can be leveraged across different scripting environments.
Organizations must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including upgrading to phpGroupWare version 0.9.7 or later, which contains the necessary patches to prevent unauthorized code execution. Additional protective measures should encompass input validation at multiple layers, including web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious parameter values, and network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable applications. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security auditing of all web applications to identify similar input handling vulnerabilities, as this type of flaw often indicates broader architectural weaknesses in how user input is processed. System administrators should also monitor for signs of exploitation attempts and implement proper logging mechanisms to track access to vulnerable endpoints, ensuring that any unauthorized activity can be quickly detected and responded to effectively.