CVE-2005-4469 in PHPGedView
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple direct static code injection vulnerabilities in PHPGedView 3.3.7 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via (1) the username field in login.php, or the (2) user_language, (3) user_email, and (4) user_gedcomid parameters in login_register.php, which is directly inserted into authenticate.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4469 represents a critical security flaw in PHPGedView versions 3.3.7 and earlier, exposing the application to remote code execution through multiple injection vectors. This vulnerability falls under the category of code injection attacks that exploit improper input validation mechanisms within the web application's authentication and registration processes. The flaw stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into dynamic PHP code execution contexts, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject arbitrary PHP commands that will be executed on the server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through four distinct attack vectors that target different parameters within the application's user authentication and registration modules. The primary injection point exists in the username field of login.php where unvalidated input is directly processed and incorporated into the authentication flow. Additionally, three parameters within login_register.php - user_language, user_email, and user_gedcomid - serve as secondary attack vectors that allow code injection into the authenticate.php file. These parameters are processed without adequate sanitization or validation, enabling attackers to inject malicious PHP code that gets executed during the authentication process. The vulnerability is classified as a direct static code injection, which is particularly dangerous as it allows for immediate code execution without requiring additional exploitation steps.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any organization utilizing affected PHPGedView installations. Remote attackers can leverage these injection points to execute arbitrary PHP code on the target server, potentially gaining complete control over the web application and underlying system. This could lead to data breaches, unauthorized access to user accounts, modification of genealogical records, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the core authentication mechanisms of the application, meaning that successful exploitation could result in persistent access to sensitive genealogical data and user information. The attack requires no prior authentication and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that store sensitive personal information in genealogical databases.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the affected PHPGedView versions to implement proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should ensure that all user inputs are properly escaped and validated before being processed or stored within the application. The implementation of proper parameterized queries and input filtering techniques would prevent the injection of malicious code into the authentication flow. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit access to the vulnerable application, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and input validation best practices. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1190 category for Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust input validation controls across all web application components.