CVE-2006-4551 in Feedsplitter
Summary
by MITRE
Eval injection vulnerability in CHXO Feedsplitter 2006-01-21 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via (1) the file specified as the value of the format parameter, and possibly (2) the RSS feed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2019
The CVE-2006-4551 vulnerability represents a critical server-side code injection flaw in the CHXO Feedsplitter version 2006-01-21, specifically targeting the PHP-based web application's handling of user-supplied input. This vulnerability falls under the category of evaluation injection, where malicious input is processed through PHP's eval() function, creating an avenue for remote code execution. The flaw manifests when the application accepts user-provided data through the format parameter and potentially through RSS feed inputs without proper sanitization or validation, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary PHP code that gets executed on the server.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the application's improper input handling mechanisms, where the format parameter value is directly passed to PHP's eval() function without adequate security controls. This creates a path for attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected server, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code injection as it enables attackers to perform actions such as file manipulation, data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and establishment of persistent backdoors. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it a significant threat to web application security.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on CHXO Feedsplitter for content management or RSS feed processing. The remote execution capability means that attackers can exploit this flaw from anywhere on the internet, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper execution of dynamic code, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically PHP. Organizations using this software face potential compromise of their entire web infrastructure, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system takeover and unauthorized access to databases, files, and other system resources.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2006-4551 requires immediate implementation of input validation and sanitization measures to prevent user-supplied data from being processed through eval() functions. Organizations should upgrade to patched versions of CHXO Feedsplitter or implement proper parameter validation that rejects malicious input patterns. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and implementing least privilege principles can help reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual file access patterns and command execution attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar injection vulnerabilities in other applications and systems. The remediation process must include thorough code review to eliminate direct eval() usage and implement proper output encoding for all user-supplied inputs to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.