CVE-2006-4645 in Social BookMarking Engine
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in akarru.gui/main_content.php in Akarru Social BookMarking Engine 0.4.3.34 and earlier, and possibly 0.4.4.120, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the bm_content parameter.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4645 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the Akarru Social BookMarking Engine version 0.4.3.34 and earlier, with potential impacts extending to version 0.4.4.120. This vulnerability resides within the akarru.gui.main_content.php component and demonstrates a classic path traversal and code execution weakness that has been prevalent in web applications for decades. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input passed through the bm_content parameter, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary PHP code on the affected server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the Akarru application's file inclusion process. When the bm_content parameter is passed to main_content.php, the application directly incorporates this user-controlled data into file inclusion operations without adequate sanitization or validation. This behavior aligns with CWE-98, which describes improper file inclusion vulnerabilities where applications include files based on user input without proper validation, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs in the bm_content parameter that point to remote malicious PHP files, effectively bypassing local file access controls and executing unauthorized code on the target server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected web server. Successful exploitation enables threat actors to upload and execute malicious payloads, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. Organizations running affected versions of Akarru Social BookMarking Engine face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential use as a stepping stone for further attacks within their network infrastructure. This type of vulnerability also increases the attack surface for lateral movement and privilege escalation attacks, as demonstrated by ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4645 should focus on immediate patching of the affected application to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability. System administrators should implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent user-supplied data from being used in file inclusion operations. The implementation of secure coding practices including the use of allowlists for valid file paths and proper parameter validation should be enforced. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms to detect and block malicious requests targeting this specific vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and components within the organization's infrastructure. The remediation process must also include monitoring for any signs of exploitation attempts and implementing proper access controls to limit the potential impact of successful attacks.