CVE-2006-4073 in phpCC
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in Fabian Hainz phpCC Beta 4.2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the base_dir parameter to (1) login.php, (2) reactivate.php, or (3) register.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4073 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw affecting Fabian Hainz phpCC Beta 4.2, a web-based content management system that was widely deployed in 2006. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters, specifically the base_dir parameter which is processed in three key files: login.php, reactivate.php, and register.php. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary URLs into these parameters, effectively enabling remote code execution on the affected server. This type of 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 vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code through web application interfaces.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the phpCC application processes user input without proper validation or sanitization of the base_dir parameter. When an attacker submits a malicious URL through any of the three vulnerable endpoints, the application's flawed input handling allows the system to include and execute the remote file, thereby granting the attacker complete control over the server. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core authentication and user management functions, providing attackers with potential access to user accounts, session data, and system resources. The PHP application fails to implement proper input validation mechanisms, allowing attackers to bypass normal security controls and inject malicious code through the inclusion of remote files. This vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper parameter sanitization and input validation, which are fundamental security practices that should be implemented at every level of web application development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete server compromise capabilities and can lead to data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations running vulnerable versions of phpCC would face significant risk exposure, as the attack surface includes all users interacting with the login, reactivation, and registration functionalities. The vulnerability could be exploited to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate database contents, or launch further attacks against internal network resources. Security teams would need to respond immediately to assess whether any unauthorized access had occurred, as the attack could remain undetected for extended periods. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects authentication mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to protected resources. This represents a critical security failure that violates basic principles of secure coding practices and demonstrates the importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing remote code execution attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the affected phpCC application to version 4.3 or later, which contains fixes for the remote file inclusion flaws. Organizations should also implement input validation controls at the application level, ensuring that all user-supplied parameters undergo strict sanitization before processing. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious requests attempting to exploit this vulnerability, though these should not be considered as primary defenses. Security configurations should include disabling remote file inclusion features in PHP settings and implementing proper access controls to limit the impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security auditing of all web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities, as this type of flaw is commonly found in legacy applications that have not been properly updated or maintained. System administrators must also establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual network traffic patterns or unauthorized access attempts that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that similar issues are not present in other applications or systems within the organization's infrastructure, as this vulnerability represents a common pattern of insecure programming practices that can be found across many legacy web applications.