CVE-2005-0268 in Flatnuke
Summary
by MITRE
Direct code injection vulnerability in FlatNuke 2.5.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code by placing the code into the url_avatar field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0268 represents a critical direct code injection flaw within FlatNuke version 2.5.1, a content management system that was widely used in web environments during the mid-2000s. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-provided input within the url_avatar field, which is typically used to specify avatar images for user profiles. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious PHP code directly into the application's processing pipeline, bypassing normal input validation mechanisms that should prevent such code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of the url_avatar parameter, which is processed without proper escaping or validation of special characters that could be interpreted as PHP code. When an attacker submits malicious code through this field, the application fails to properly filter or encode the input before it is processed, creating an environment where arbitrary PHP commands can be executed on the server hosting the FlatNuke application. This represents a classic example of a command injection vulnerability that operates at the application layer, allowing attackers to execute code with the privileges of the web server process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected web server. Once exploited, the malicious PHP code can be executed to perform various malicious activities including data exfiltration, server compromise, installation of backdoors, or use of the compromised server for further attacks against other systems. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target network, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that do not maintain proper network segmentation or intrusion detection measures.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper validation of dangerous or unexpected inputs that can lead to code injection attacks. The flaw also maps to several techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Execution tactic, specifically targeting the use of remote code execution capabilities. Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory compliance violations, particularly in environments where sensitive information is stored or processed through the compromised FlatNuke installation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, as well as the necessity of keeping CMS platforms updated with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the FlatNuke application to a version that properly sanitizes the url_avatar field, implementing proper input validation and sanitization routines, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of their web applications to identify similar input validation flaws and ensure that all user-provided data is properly escaped before processing. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for secure coding practices and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of code injection vulnerabilities that can lead to complete system compromise.