CVE-2005-2893 in PBLang
Summary
by MITRE
Direct static code injection vulnerability in setcookie.php in PBLang 4.65, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via the username (u parameter), which is directly injected into a file that is later executed upon login.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2893 represents a critical direct static code injection flaw within the PBLang 4.65 content management system and potentially earlier versions. This vulnerability resides in the setcookie.php script which processes user authentication data. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input, specifically the username parameter designated as 'u', allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary PHP code directly into the application's execution flow. The vulnerability operates at the core of the application's session management mechanism where user credentials are processed and stored in cookies.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding practices within the PBLang framework. When a user attempts to log in with a specially crafted username parameter, the application directly incorporates this input into a PHP file that gets executed during subsequent authentication processes. This creates a classic code injection scenario where attacker-controlled data becomes executable code within the application context. The vulnerability is classified as a direct static code injection because the malicious payload is injected into the code at runtime rather than being executed through dynamic code evaluation mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2893 is severe and potentially catastrophic for affected systems. Remote attackers can achieve arbitrary code execution on the target server, effectively gaining full control over the application and underlying infrastructure. This allows for complete system compromise including data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms installation, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require authentication to exploit, making it a high-severity threat that can be leveraged by any remote attacker. The attack vector is straightforward, requiring only a single HTTP request with malicious input to achieve code execution, which aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter.
The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-94, which describes the weakness of "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')", specifically the subset related to direct static code injection. This classification indicates that the application fails to properly validate and sanitize user input before incorporating it into executable code contexts. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in input sanitization and output encoding practices that should be addressed through proper application hardening measures. The lack of proper input validation in the username parameter processing creates an attack surface that enables complete system compromise without requiring additional exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2893 must focus on immediate patching of the affected PBLang versions, with the implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement strict parameter validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious input before it can be processed by the application. The recommended approach includes implementing proper input sanitization routines that filter out special characters and executable code patterns from user inputs. Additionally, the application should employ proper output encoding when handling user data to prevent code injection scenarios. Security measures should also include network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can detect and block suspicious input patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against code injection attacks, as outlined in industry standards and best practices for secure software development.