CVE-2004-1419 in ZeroBoard
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in ZeroBoard 4.1pl4 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code by modifying the (1) _zb_path parameter to outlogin.php or (2) dir parameter to write.php to reference a URL on a remote web server that contains the code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1419 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw that affects ZeroBoard 4.1pl4 and earlier versions, demonstrating a classic security oversight in web application input validation. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of user-supplied parameters that are directly incorporated into file inclusion operations without proper sanitization or validation, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on the target server. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes the _zb_path parameter in outlogin.php or the dir parameter in write.php, allowing attackers to manipulate these inputs to reference external URLs containing malicious PHP code.
This vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-88, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command, and more specifically aligns with CWE-94, which covers the execution of arbitrary code due to improper validation of input parameters. The attack vector operates through the exploitation of insecure file inclusion mechanisms where the application blindly accepts user input and incorporates it into file system operations. When attackers manipulate the _zb_path or dir parameters to point to remote web servers hosting malicious PHP scripts, the vulnerable application's file inclusion functions execute the remote code with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability represents a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding practices that violates the principle of least privilege and secure coding standards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to establish persistent access to the compromised system. Successful exploitation allows adversaries to upload additional malicious files, create backdoors, escalate privileges, and potentially use the compromised server as a launching point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring local access or credentials, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers the exploitation of remote services through the use of file inclusion vulnerabilities, and T1059, which involves the execution of commands through the use of scripting languages.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements in the application's security posture. The primary solution involves implementing strict input validation and parameter sanitization for all user-supplied data that is used in file inclusion operations, ensuring that only predefined, safe values are accepted. Developers should employ whitelisting approaches for file paths and parameters, rejecting any input that contains suspicious patterns or external references. Additionally, the application should disable remote file inclusion functionality entirely by configuring the web server or application to prohibit the inclusion of remote files through the use of directives such as allow_url_include = Off in php.ini. Security headers and input validation layers should be implemented at multiple points in the application architecture to provide defense in depth. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar patterns in other parts of the application, while implementing proper error handling that does not expose internal system information to attackers. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping applications updated with the latest security patches and following secure coding guidelines such as those provided by the OWASP Top Ten project to prevent similar issues from occurring in future development cycles.