CVE-2005-3554 in PHPKIT
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple eval injection vulnerabilities in the help function in PHPKIT 1.6.1 R2 and earlier, when register_globals is enabled, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server via unknown attack vectors involving uninitialized variables.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3554 represents a critical code execution flaw within PHPKIT version 1.6.1 R2 and earlier installations. This vulnerability specifically targets the help function implementation within the PHPKIT content management system, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected servers. The flaw manifests when the register_globals PHP configuration setting is enabled, which historically allowed global variables to be automatically populated from various input sources including GET, POST, and COOKIE parameters. This configuration, while deprecated due to security concerns, was still prevalent in many server environments during the time of this vulnerability's discovery.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability stems from improper handling of uninitialized variables within the help function's code execution flow. When register_globals is enabled, variables can be directly injected into the global scope from external input sources without proper sanitization or validation. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input parameters that manipulate the help function's internal variable handling, leading to code injection through eval() function calls. The vulnerability specifically leverages the interaction between uninitialized variables and the eval() function, where attacker-controlled data can be passed directly to eval() without proper filtering, resulting in arbitrary code execution on the target server. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-94, which describes the weakness of allowing code to be executed as a result of uncontrolled data being passed to the eval() function.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any organization running affected PHPKIT installations with register_globals enabled. Remote attackers can gain complete control over the compromised server, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and further lateral movement within network infrastructure. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the affected web application. Organizations using PHPKIT in production environments were at significant risk, as the vulnerability could be leveraged to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or use the compromised server as a launching point for attacks against other systems. The vulnerability also highlights the dangers of legacy PHP configurations and the importance of proper input validation practices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve multiple layers of defensive measures. The primary and most effective approach is to disable the register_globals configuration setting in PHP, which eliminates the root cause of the vulnerability by preventing automatic global variable population from external input sources. Additionally, organizations should upgrade to PHPKIT versions that have addressed this vulnerability through proper code review and input validation implementation. The help function should be reviewed for proper parameter sanitization and validation before any code execution occurs. Security practitioners should implement proper input filtering and validation mechanisms to prevent malicious data from reaching the eval() function calls. Network-level defenses such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection by detecting and blocking suspicious parameter patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through scripting, emphasizing the need for proper input validation and the elimination of dangerous functions like eval() in application code.