CVE-2006-5308 in Open Conference Systems
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in Open Conference Systems (OCS) before 1.1.6 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the fullpath parameter in (1) include/theme.inc.php or (2) include/footer.inc.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5308 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the Open Conference Systems (OCS) platform, a widely used open-source software for managing academic conferences and scholarly publications. This vulnerability specifically affects OCS versions prior to 1.1.6 and stems from improper input validation mechanisms that fail to sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into file paths. The flaw manifests in two primary locations within the application's codebase, namely the include/theme.inc.php and include/footer.inc.php files, where the fullpath parameter is directly utilized without adequate security controls. This creates a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary URLs that the application will subsequently attempt to include and execute as PHP code, effectively enabling remote code execution capabilities.
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 operates through a classic parameter injection vector where an attacker can manipulate the fullpath parameter to reference external URLs containing malicious PHP payloads. When the vulnerable application processes these parameters, it performs a file inclusion operation that executes the attacker-controlled code within the context of the web server, potentially granting full system access. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution as it can be leveraged to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or compromise the entire hosting environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to academic institutions and conference organizers who rely on OCS for their scholarly communication platforms. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can target these systems from anywhere on the internet without requiring local access or credentials. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that OCS is designed for public-facing conference management, often handling sensitive research data, author information, and institutional documents. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be detected through proper input validation monitoring, web application firewalls, and regular security scanning of deployed systems. The exploitability factor is high due to the direct nature of the injection point and the lack of authentication requirements for triggering the vulnerable code paths.
Organizations utilizing OCS systems should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to version 1.1.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation deficiencies. Additionally, administrators should enforce strict input validation on all user-supplied parameters, implement proper URL sanitization routines, and consider deploying web application firewalls with rules specifically designed to detect and block file inclusion attack patterns. The implementation of the principle of least privilege should also be enforced, ensuring that web server processes operate with minimal necessary permissions. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file inclusion patterns and unauthorized access attempts to system resources. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security testing practices including dynamic application security testing and static code analysis to identify similar flaws in other applications. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all deployed systems undergo regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning procedures to identify and remediate similar weaknesses.