CVE-2005-4156 in Mambo Open Source 4.5
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Mambo 4.5 (1.0.0) through 4.5 (1.0.9), with magic_quotes_gpc disabled, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files and possibly cause a denial of service via a query string that ends with a NULL character.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4156 represents a critical security flaw within Mambo content management systems version 4.5 through 1.0.9, specifically when the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled. This issue falls under the broader category of insecure input handling and file inclusion vulnerabilities, with direct implications for data confidentiality and system availability. The vulnerability exists in the way the application processes query strings, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's file handling mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the query string parameter that terminates with a NULL character, allowing attackers to bypass normal input validation checks. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input, creating a condition where a specially crafted URL can trigger unintended file system access. This flaw operates at the intersection of improper input validation and insecure file operations, directly correlating to CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation in software systems. The NULL character injection technique leverages the way PHP handles string termination, allowing the application to interpret the malformed input as a legitimate file path request.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to perform arbitrary file reads from the server filesystem, potentially exposing sensitive information such as configuration files, database credentials, and application source code. The impact extends beyond mere information disclosure to include potential denial of service conditions, as malicious queries can cause the application to consume excessive resources or crash when attempting to process the malformed input. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into the application architecture and potentially escalate their attacks through further exploitation of the discovered information. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213, which covers data from information repositories, as it allows unauthorized access to stored application data.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the Mambo CMS to versions that address the input validation flaw, combined with proper configuration of PHP settings to ensure magic_quotes_gpc is enabled or equivalent input sanitization measures are implemented. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious query strings containing NULL characters, and establish proper input validation routines that explicitly check for and reject malformed input. Additional defensive measures include restricting file system access permissions for the web application, implementing proper logging and monitoring of file access patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in the application stack. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and the dangers of relying on insufficient validation mechanisms in web applications.