CVE-2006-6281 in dicshunary
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in check_status.php in dicshunary 0.1 alpha allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the dicshunary_root_path parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6281 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the dicshunary 0.1 alpha web application, specifically within the check_status.php script. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to adequately restrict user-supplied data from being directly incorporated into file inclusion operations. The affected parameter dicshunary_root_path accepts external URL inputs without proper sanitization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary PHP code execution payloads.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL and passes it through the dicshunary_root_path parameter to the vulnerable check_status.php endpoint. When the application processes this input, it attempts to include the specified remote file, effectively executing any PHP code contained within that remote resource. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-88, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, though in this case the weakness manifests in file inclusion contexts rather than database operations. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it targets publicly accessible web interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected web server environment. Successful exploitation can result in full system compromise, data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms installation, and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to deploy web shells, establish backdoors, or perform more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or data manipulation within the compromised system. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the target system and can exploit it from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-6281 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary fix involves implementing strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file inclusion operations. Applications should employ whitelisting mechanisms that only permit predefined, safe values for path parameters rather than accepting arbitrary URLs. Additionally, the disable_functions directive in php.ini should be configured to prevent execution of dangerous functions such as shell_exec, exec, system, and passthru that could be leveraged by attackers. Security practitioners should also implement proper parameter validation using regular expressions to ensure that inputs match expected patterns and reject any suspicious or malformed URLs. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can provide additional defense-in-depth layers to detect and block exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping web applications updated and patched, as this issue was present in an alpha release version that should have undergone proper security testing before public deployment. Organizations should implement comprehensive application security testing including dynamic and static analysis tools to identify similar vulnerabilities in their codebases and ensure that file inclusion operations are properly secured against user-controlled inputs.