CVE-2006-6856 in WebText
Summary
by MITRE
Direct static code injection vulnerability in WebText CMS 0.4.5.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary PHP code into a script in wt/users/ via the im parameter during a profile edit (edycja) operation, which is then executed via a direct request for this script.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6856 represents a critical direct static code injection flaw within WebText CMS version 0.4.5.2 and earlier installations. This vulnerability resides in the user profile editing functionality where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into executable PHP code. The specific attack vector involves the im parameter within the wt/users/ directory during profile edit operations, creating a pathway for remote attackers to inject malicious PHP code that gets executed when the affected script is directly requested. The flaw constitutes a classic code injection vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target system with the privileges of the web server.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates under CWE-94, which defines the weakness of "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" as the underlying cause. The vulnerability manifests when user-supplied data from the im parameter is directly concatenated into PHP script content without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms. The attack requires minimal prerequisites as it operates over standard HTTP protocols and does not require authentication for the initial code injection phase. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for persistent code execution, enabling attackers to establish backdoors, exfiltrate data, or perform further reconnaissance activities. The direct nature of the execution means that the injected code becomes part of the script's runtime environment and executes immediately upon script access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass full system compromise potential. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious PHP payloads that may include web shells, data exfiltration scripts, or additional exploit delivery mechanisms. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire web application environment since the injected code executes with the privileges of the web server process. This creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the vulnerability is patched, allowing attackers to maintain long-term access to the compromised system. The vulnerability also impacts the availability of the service as attackers can potentially disrupt normal operations through malicious code execution or resource exhaustion attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-6856 must focus on immediate patching of the WebText CMS to version 0.4.5.3 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that validate and escape all user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic code generation processes. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring web server processes run with minimal necessary permissions, limiting the potential damage from successful exploitation. Network-level defenses including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious patterns in URL parameters and script execution requests. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar injection vulnerabilities within the application's codebase, particularly focusing on dynamic code generation and user input handling mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of profile editing operations can help detect unauthorized code injection attempts and provide forensic evidence for incident response activities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping all web applications updated and following secure coding practices that prevent dynamic code execution from untrusted inputs, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's mitigation recommendations for code injection techniques.