CVE-2006-1955 in RechnungsZentrale
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in authent.php4 in Nicolas Fischer (aka NFec) RechnungsZentrale V2 1.1.3, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the rootpath parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1955 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the RechnungsZentrale V2 1.1.3 web application developed by Nicolas Fischer. This vulnerability resides within the authent.php4 component and demonstrates a classic insecure direct object reference pattern that enables attackers to manipulate application behavior through crafted input parameters. The flaw specifically affects the rootpath parameter which is used to define the application's root directory path, making it susceptible to manipulation by remote adversaries who can inject malicious URLs to execute arbitrary code on the target server.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-88, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in an expression, specifically in the context of remote file inclusion attacks. The technical implementation involves the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input passed through the rootpath parameter. When an attacker supplies a URL as the value for this parameter, the application's code attempts to include and execute the remote file, effectively allowing the attacker to inject malicious PHP code that gets executed within the context of the web server process. The vulnerability stems from the application's use of dynamic file inclusion functions without adequate input validation or sanitization measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over the affected web server. Remote code execution capabilities enable adversaries to perform various malicious activities including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, server compromise, and establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects not just the specific version mentioned but potentially all earlier versions of the RechnungsZentrale application, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple deployments. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1505.003 for Server Software Component, where adversaries leverage vulnerable web applications to establish persistent access and execute malicious code remotely.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file inclusion operations. Applications should employ allowlists of permitted values rather than denylists, and any dynamic path construction should be validated against a known set of acceptable directories. Additionally, the application should disable remote file inclusion features entirely by configuring the web server to restrict such operations. Security headers and application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, as demonstrated by ATT&CK technique T1068 which addresses the exploitation of vulnerabilities in application code to gain unauthorized access to systems.