CVE-2005-3796 in Affiliate Network Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Direct static code injection vulnerability in admin_options_manage.php in AlstraSoft Affiliate Network Pro 7.2 allows attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via the number parameter. NOTE: it is not clear from the original report whether administrator privileges are required. If not, then this does not cross privilege boundaries and is not a vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3796 represents a critical direct static code injection flaw within the AlstraSoft Affiliate Network Pro 7.2 web application. This vulnerability exists in the admin_options_manage.php file where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before incorporating it into executable PHP code. The specific parameter affected is the "number" parameter which when manipulated by an attacker can lead to arbitrary code execution on the target system. The nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the category of code injection attacks that can potentially allow remote attackers to execute malicious commands with the privileges of the web application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of user-supplied data in a context where dynamic code execution occurs. When the number parameter is processed, the application directly incorporates this input into PHP execution contexts without adequate sanitization or validation measures. This creates an environment where an attacker can inject malicious PHP code that gets executed by the web server, effectively bypassing normal application security controls. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing code injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability varies significantly depending on whether administrative privileges are required for exploitation. According to the original report, there is uncertainty regarding the privilege level needed for successful exploitation, which creates ambiguity in assessing the true scope of risk. If exploitation requires administrator access, then the vulnerability represents an authenticated code injection that could be used to escalate privileges and gain full control over the application. However, if the vulnerability can be exploited without administrative privileges, it still represents a serious security flaw that could be leveraged for unauthorized code execution. The uncertainty in privilege requirements makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it could potentially be exploited by both authenticated users and unauthenticated attackers depending on the specific implementation details.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, specifically covering situations where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into executable code without proper validation. This weakness is further categorized under the broader ATT&CK framework as part of the Code Injection technique, where adversaries execute code in the context of the affected application. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious input that gets processed by the vulnerable application and subsequently executed on the server, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures throughout the application. The most effective approach involves removing or escaping any user-supplied data before it can be processed in contexts where code execution occurs. Application developers should implement proper parameter validation, use prepared statements for database operations, and employ output encoding techniques to prevent injection of malicious code. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that administrative functions require proper authentication and authorization checks. Regular security code reviews and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The implementation of web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing proper logging and monitoring to detect suspicious activities that may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability.