CVE-2005-2331 in MooseGallery
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in display.php in MooseGallery allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via the type parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2331 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the MooseGallery web application's display.php component. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object references and improper input validation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the target server. The issue specifically arises from the application's failure to properly validate or sanitize the type parameter before incorporating it into file inclusion operations, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted input.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker supplies a malicious value to the type parameter in the display.php script. The application processes this parameter without adequate sanitization, potentially concatenating attacker-controlled input directly into file inclusion functions such as include or require. This creates an environment where remote code execution becomes possible, as the application will attempt to include and execute files specified by the attacker. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution flaw, which can be categorized under CWE-94 - Improper Control of Generation of Code and CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation, both of which are fundamental security weaknesses that have been consistently identified in web application security assessments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary PHP code on the affected server. This capability can be leveraged to gain full control over the web application and potentially the underlying server, allowing for data theft, service disruption, or further lateral movement within the network. Attackers can upload malicious files, establish backdoors, or manipulate the application's functionality to serve their malicious purposes. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the web application, as well as potentially compromising the entire hosting environment. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PHP, and T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, which are both critical tactics in the attack lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application code. The most effective approach involves removing the dynamic file inclusion functionality or ensuring that any user-supplied input is strictly validated against a whitelist of allowed values. The application should employ proper parameter validation techniques, including input filtering, output encoding, and the use of allowlists for file inclusion operations. Additionally, the web server configuration should be reviewed to ensure that remote file inclusion is disabled and that proper access controls are implemented. Security patches should be applied immediately to address this vulnerability, and the application should be audited for similar patterns that might expose other components to the same class of attack. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection mechanisms to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in web application development, as well as the necessity of regular security assessments to identify and remediate such critical flaws.