CVE-2006-4946 in Business Card Web Builder
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in include/startup.inc.php in CMSDevelopment Business Card Web Builder (BCWB) 0.99, and possibly 2.5 Beta and earlier, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the root_path parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4946 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the CMSDevelopment Business Card Web Builder version 0.99 and potentially earlier versions including the 2.5 Beta release. This vulnerability exists within the include/startup.inc.php file where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input passed through the root_path parameter. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary URLs that are then included and executed as PHP code on the target server, creating a severe security risk that can lead to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation practices within the web application's include mechanism. When the root_path parameter is passed to the startup.inc.php file, the application directly incorporates user-provided URLs without adequate sanitization or verification processes. This primitive handling of external input creates an environment where attackers can manipulate the include path to reference malicious remote files hosted on attacker-controlled servers. The vulnerability falls under CWE-98, which specifically addresses improper control of code generation capabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in remote services. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input sanitization and output encoding that has been a persistent issue in web application security since the early days of php-based systems.
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 attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or server takeover. The vulnerability can be exploited through simple HTTP requests that include malicious URLs in the root_path parameter, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit. Organizations running affected versions of the Business Card Web Builder face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential use as a foothold for further network infiltration. The remote nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system and can exploit it from anywhere on the internet, amplifying the threat landscape considerably.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected application to the latest secure version, as well as implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input is properly validated and that the application does not accept external URLs for inclusion operations. The implementation of a whitelist approach for acceptable paths and parameters can prevent unauthorized inclusion operations. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for exploitation attempts. Security configurations should enforce proper file inclusion practices, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The remediation process should also include educating developers about secure coding practices and implementing proper input validation at all levels of the application stack to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.