CVE-2006-1839 in PHP Album
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in language.php in PHP Album 0.3.2.3, when register_globals is enabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an FTP URL in the data_dir parameter, which satisfies the file_exists function call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1839 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw affecting PHP Album version 0.3.2.3, specifically targeting the language.php script. This vulnerability exploits a fundamental security weakness in how the application handles user-supplied input when register_globals is enabled, creating a dangerous attack vector that can be leveraged by remote adversaries to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The flaw resides in the improper validation and handling of the data_dir parameter, which is processed through a file_exists function call that accepts FTP URLs, enabling attackers to inject malicious code through remote file inclusion techniques.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires that the target system has register_globals enabled, a configuration that was common in older php installations but has since been deprecated due to its security implications. When an attacker crafts a malicious request containing an FTP URL in the data_dir parameter, the vulnerable application passes this input directly to the file_exists function without proper sanitization or validation. This allows the function to successfully resolve and include the remote file, effectively executing any malicious code contained within it. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-88, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in an expression, specifically in the context of remote file inclusion attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with complete remote code execution capabilities on the affected web server. Once successfully exploited, an attacker can gain full control over the PHP Album application and potentially escalate privileges to compromise the underlying server infrastructure. The attack can be executed from any location with network access to the vulnerable web application, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in remote services to gain initial access, and T1059, which covers executing commands through various interfaces including web applications.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability involves multiple layers of security controls that must be implemented to prevent exploitation. The primary mitigation is to disable register_globals in the php.ini configuration file, as this setting is inherently insecure and should never be enabled in production environments. Additionally, developers should implement proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file inclusion operations. The application should validate that input parameters only accept expected values and reject any suspicious or unexpected input, including URLs with protocols other than http or https. Furthermore, implementing a whitelist approach for file inclusion parameters and avoiding direct user input in file operations can effectively prevent this class of vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all software components are regularly updated to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being present in their infrastructure.