CVE-2003-1251 in Web Content Management System 2002
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) menu.inc.php, (2) datasets.php and (3) mass_operations.inc.php (mistakenly referred to as mass_opeations.inc.php) scripts in N/X 2002 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a c_path that references a URL on a remote web server that contains the code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-1251 represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting the N/X 2002 web application. This issue manifests across three distinct PHP script files including menu.inc.php, datasets.php, and mass_operations.inc.php which collectively enable attackers to inject and execute malicious PHP code on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insecure file handling mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters before processing. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious c_path parameters that reference remote web servers containing malicious PHP code, effectively bypassing normal security controls and gaining unauthorized execution privileges on the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper validation of dangerous or unexpected input, specifically manifesting as code injection through untrusted data sources. This weakness allows attackers to leverage the application's file inclusion mechanisms to execute arbitrary code by pointing to remote resources that contain malicious payloads. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple attack vectors including remote code execution, web application vulnerabilities, and insecure file handling practices. The flaw essentially permits attackers to perform remote code execution by manipulating the c_path parameter to reference external URLs, where the referenced content is then executed within the context of the web application.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to organizations deploying N/X 2002 applications, as it allows remote attackers to completely compromise affected systems without requiring authentication or physical access. The attack can be executed entirely through web-based means, making it particularly dangerous for systems that are accessible over the internet. Successful exploitation enables attackers to execute commands with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability also facilitates lateral movement within networks as attackers can use compromised systems as launch points for further attacks against other networked devices.
The attack pattern for this vulnerability maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications to execute arbitrary code. This technique is particularly relevant as it demonstrates how attackers can leverage web application flaws to gain unauthorized access and execute malicious payloads. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing strict input validation and sanitization mechanisms, particularly for parameters that control file inclusion operations. Organizations should enforce the use of allowlists for acceptable file paths and implement proper access controls to prevent remote code execution. Additionally, the application should be configured to disable remote file inclusion features and implement proper output encoding to prevent malicious code injection. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be established to address similar vulnerabilities in web applications, while network segmentation and monitoring systems should be deployed to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and the need for comprehensive security testing including input validation and file handling security reviews.