CVE-2006-4714 in Vivvo Article Management CMS
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in index.php in SpoonLabs Vivvo Article Management CMS (aka phpWordPress) 3.2 and earlier, when register_globals is enabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the classified_path parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-4714 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the SpoonLabs Vivvo Article Management CMS, formerly known as phpWordPress, affecting versions 3.2 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically exploits the insecure handling of user-supplied input through the classified_path parameter in the index.php script, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary PHP code on the affected system. The vulnerability's severity is significantly amplified when the server has register_globals enabled, a configuration that automatically converts HTTP request variables into PHP variables, thereby expanding the attack surface and making the exploitation more straightforward.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-88, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in an expression, specifically in the context of remote file inclusion attacks. The flaw occurs because the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the classified_path parameter before using it in a file inclusion operation. When register_globals is enabled, the parameter becomes directly accessible as a PHP variable, allowing attackers to inject malicious URLs that get processed by the include or require functions within the application. This creates a classic remote code execution vector where an attacker can upload or reference malicious PHP code from external servers and have it executed on the target system with the privileges of the web server process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected web server. Once exploited, adversaries can upload backdoors, steal sensitive data, modify content, or use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the CMS, potentially compromising all content managed through the system, user authentication mechanisms, and underlying database connections. Given that this vulnerability affects a content management system, the potential for data breaches, defacement, and service disruption is substantial, particularly in environments where the CMS manages sensitive or critical business information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4714 should prioritize immediate remediation through patching the vulnerable CMS version to a secure release that properly validates and sanitizes input parameters. Organizations should disable the register_globals directive in their PHP configuration as a defensive measure, since this setting significantly weakens the security posture of web applications. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should also be deployed to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability pattern, while regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues across the entire application portfolio.