CVE-2006-5226 in Freenews
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in moteur/moteur.php in Prologin.fr Freenews 1.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the chemin parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5226 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the Prologin.fr Freenews 1.1 content management system, specifically affecting the moteur/moteur.php script. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input through the chemin parameter, which is processed without adequate validation or sanitization. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious URLs that are subsequently included and executed by the PHP interpreter, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution on the vulnerable system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the insecure use of PHP's include or require functions with user-controllable variables. When the chemin parameter is passed directly to these functions without proper input validation, attackers can manipulate the parameter to reference external malicious files hosted on remote servers. This behavior aligns with CWE-98, which describes improper control of code generation capabilities, and specifically manifests as a remote file inclusion vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the web application is publicly accessible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential data breaches. Attackers can leverage this flaw to upload and execute malicious PHP scripts, potentially establishing backdoors, exfiltrating sensitive data, or using the compromised server as a launch point for further attacks. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system, as it can be used to completely take control of the web server. This aligns with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term prevention measures. The most effective immediate solution involves patching the application to version 1.2 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should also implement proper input sanitization techniques, including validating the chemin parameter against a whitelist of allowed values, implementing proper URL validation, and avoiding the use of user-controllable variables in include statements. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by running web applications with minimal required permissions, and network segmentation should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar insecure coding practices that could lead to remote code execution vulnerabilities.