CVE-2006-4477 in ezContents
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in Visual Shapers ezContents 2.0.3 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via an empty GLOBALS[rootdp] parameter and an ftps URL in the (1) GLOBALS[admin_home] parameter in (a) diary/event_list.php, (b) gallery/gallery_summary.php, (c) guestbook/showguestbook.php, (d) links/showlinks.php, and (e) reviews/review_summary.php; and the (2) GLOBALS[language_home] parameter in (f) calendar/calendar.php, (g) news/shownews.php, (h) poll/showpoll.php, (i) search/search.php, (j) toprated/toprated.php, and (k) whatsnew/whatsnew.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-4477 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the Visual Shapers ezContents 2.0.3 content management system that exposes multiple attack vectors through improper input validation and dynamic variable handling. This vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-88, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in an expression, and more broadly aligns with CWE-94, which encompasses the execution of arbitrary code through code injection. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input parameters, particularly those related to directory paths and language configurations, allowing attackers to inject malicious file paths that are subsequently executed by the PHP interpreter.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of specific GLOBALS parameters within the application's codebase, specifically targeting the GLOBALS[rootdp], GLOBALS[admin_home], and GLOBALS[language_home] variables. Attackers can leverage an empty GLOBALS[rootdp] parameter combined with an ftps URL in the GLOBALS[admin_home] parameter to establish a remote code execution payload. This technique enables attackers to load malicious PHP code from remote servers through protocols such as ftps, which bypasses local file system restrictions and allows for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability affects multiple files within the ezContents application, including diary/event_list.php, gallery/gallery_summary.php, guestbook/showguestbook.php, links/showlinks.php, and reviews/review_summary.php for the admin_home parameter, while calendar/calendar.php, news/shownews.php, poll/showpoll.php, search/search.php, toprated/toprated.php, and whatsnew/whatsnew.php are affected by the language_home parameter manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and encompasses complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code with the privileges of the web server process, which typically runs with elevated permissions on the hosting system. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be used to establish backdoors, steal sensitive data, perform reconnaissance activities, and potentially escalate privileges to gain full administrative control over the affected server. The vulnerability's widespread impact across multiple application modules increases the attack surface and reduces the effectiveness of partial mitigations, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where the application serves critical business functions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, parameter sanitization, and the implementation of a secure coding approach that avoids dynamic variable evaluation. The recommended defense-in-depth strategies include disabling remote file inclusion features in PHP configuration, implementing proper input filtering and validation mechanisms, and applying the latest security patches from Visual Shapers. Additionally, network-level controls such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block malicious requests attempting to exploit this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls that address both the application layer and network infrastructure. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy applications and prevent similar issues from occurring in future software deployments.