CVE-2007-0501 in Mafia Scum Tools
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in index.php in Mafia Scum Tools 2.0.0 in Matthew Wardrop Advanced Random Generators (adv-random-gen) allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the gen parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0501 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the Mafia Scum Tools 2.0.0 software suite developed by Matthew Wardrop. This issue specifically affects the index.php script within the Advanced Random Generators component, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary PHP code on the affected system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict user-supplied data from being directly incorporated into file inclusion operations. According to CWE-88, this represents a specific instance of improper input validation where attacker-controllable data flows into a code execution context. The affected application processes the gen parameter without sufficient sanitization, allowing remote attackers to inject malicious URLs that get executed as PHP code, thereby bypassing normal access controls and potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the gen parameter within the index.php script, which accepts user input and incorporates it directly into file inclusion operations. This pattern of operation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the use of remote file inclusion vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL and passes it through the gen parameter, the application's insecure implementation processes this input and attempts to include the remote file, effectively executing any PHP code contained within the malicious resource. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it operates at the application level, allowing attackers to potentially escalate privileges and gain full control over the affected server environment. The flaw essentially creates an attack surface where external resources can be loaded and executed without proper authorization checks, making it particularly dangerous in web server environments where such functionality might be intended for legitimate use cases.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, and persistent access establishment. Organizations running affected versions of Mafia Scum Tools face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential compromise of their entire web infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-94 indicates that it represents a code injection flaw that allows execution of arbitrary code, while the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 category covers the execution of system commands through PHP code injection. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, deploy additional malware, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks against other networked systems. The impact is particularly severe in shared hosting environments or when the application runs with elevated privileges, as it could potentially enable privilege escalation and broader system infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-0501 must address both the immediate vulnerability and broader security posture of affected systems. Organizations should immediately disable or remove the vulnerable application if possible, or implement strict input validation and sanitization measures to prevent any user-controllable data from being processed in file inclusion contexts. The implementation of parameterized input validation, where all user-supplied data is properly escaped and validated before processing, represents the primary defense mechanism. Security measures should include disabling the ability to include remote files through configuration settings, implementing proper access controls, and ensuring that all file inclusion operations use whitelisting approaches rather than accepting arbitrary input. According to industry best practices and ATT&CK mitigation strategies, organizations should also deploy web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests containing malicious file inclusion patterns. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues within the application codebase, while proper patch management procedures should be established to ensure timely remediation of known vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, emphasizing that all user-controllable inputs must be rigorously validated before being processed by any application functionality.