CVE-2007-0561 in Xero Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in Xero Portal 1.2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the phpbb_root_path parameter to (1) admin_linkdb.php, (2) admin_forum_prune.php, (3) admin_extensions.php, (4) admin_board.php, (5) admin_attachments.php, or (6) admin_users.php in admin/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0561 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw affecting Xero Portal 1.2 software. This vulnerability resides within the administrative components of the application and specifically targets the phpbb_root_path parameter which is processed in multiple administrative scripts. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious URLs that can be executed as PHP code, effectively enabling arbitrary code execution on the affected server. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-88 category for Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command, though more specifically aligns with CWE-94 for Improper Control of Generation of Code, which is a direct descendant of the broader command injection and code execution vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input passed through the phpbb_root_path parameter. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL and passes it as this parameter to any of the six vulnerable administrative scripts, the application treats the input as a legitimate file path and attempts to include the remote file. This process bypasses normal security controls and allows the attacker to execute PHP code from external sources. The vulnerability affects multiple administrative files including admin_linkdb.php, admin_forum_prune.php, admin_extensions.php, admin_board.php, admin_attachments.php, and admin_users.php, all located within the admin/ directory structure. These files are particularly dangerous because they operate with elevated privileges and can modify core system functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain complete control over the affected server, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or complete service disruption. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system and can exploit the vulnerability from anywhere on the internet. This vulnerability directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, and the broader T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers can execute malicious code through web application interfaces. The attack chain typically involves reconnaissance to identify the vulnerable application, crafting of malicious payloads, and exploitation of the file inclusion vulnerability to establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. The most effective immediate solution is to upgrade to a patched version of Xero Portal or apply the vendor-supplied security patches that properly validate and sanitize all user input. Administrators should implement proper input validation and sanitization techniques to ensure that any user-supplied parameters are thoroughly checked against allowed patterns before processing. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting access to administrative interfaces and implementing strong authentication mechanisms. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should limit access to administrative endpoints to only trusted IP addresses. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file inclusion patterns or attempts to access external resources through administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting these specific vulnerability patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in preventing remote code execution attacks that can lead to complete system compromise.