CVE-2001-1032 in PHP-Nuke
Summary
by MITRE
admin.php in PHP-Nuke 5.2 and earlier, except 5.0RC1, does not check login credentials for upload operations, which allows remote attackers to copy and upload arbitrary files and read the PHP-Nuke configuration file by directly calling admin.php with an upload parameter and specifying the file to copy.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-1032 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in PHP-Nuke version 5.2 and earlier, excluding the 5.0RC1 release. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access control mechanisms within the admin.php script, which serves as the administrative interface for PHP-Nuke content management systems. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit the upload functionality without proper authentication credentials, creating a pathway for arbitrary file execution and sensitive data exposure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through direct parameter manipulation of the admin.php script. Attackers can bypass normal authentication procedures by directly invoking the upload functionality with specific parameters that trigger file copying operations. This flaw specifically affects the file upload mechanism where the application fails to validate whether the requesting user possesses legitimate administrative privileges before permitting upload operations. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes the upload parameter without verifying the current user session or authentication status, allowing malicious actors to leverage this weakness for unauthorized file operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents severe security implications for organizations utilizing affected PHP-Nuke versions. The ability to copy and upload arbitrary files directly into the web server filesystem enables attackers to deploy malicious code, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Additionally, the vulnerability allows access to the PHP-Nuke configuration file, which typically contains sensitive information including database credentials, administrative passwords, and system configuration parameters. This exposure creates opportunities for further attacks including database compromise, privilege escalation, and persistent backdoor installation. The impact extends beyond immediate code execution to include potential data theft and system integrity compromise.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization in software applications, and represents a classic example of improper access control. From an attacker's perspective, this flaw maps to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1078 credential access and T1505 command and control categories. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to PHP-Nuke versions that address this vulnerability, implementing proper authentication checks for all administrative functions, and conducting comprehensive security audits of file upload mechanisms. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers while the primary fix involves ensuring that all administrative operations require proper authentication before execution. Regular security assessments and input validation improvements should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future software releases.