CVE-2007-0684 in Cerulean Portal System
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in portal.php in Cerulean Portal System 0.7b allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the phpbb_root_path parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
The CVE-2007-0684 vulnerability represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the Cerulean Portal System version 0.7b, specifically affecting the portal.php script. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict user-supplied data from being directly incorporated into file inclusion operations. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to manipulate the phpbb_root_path parameter, which is then used to construct file paths that are subsequently included by the PHP interpreter. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of insecure direct object references and improper input validation issues that have been consistently categorized by CWE as CWE-22 and CWE-94 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL and passes it through the phpbb_root_path parameter, which is then processed by the vulnerable portal.php script. When the PHP interpreter encounters this parameter, it treats the supplied URL as a legitimate file path and attempts to include and execute the remote file. This creates an execution environment where arbitrary PHP code can be injected and executed on the target server, effectively allowing attackers to gain remote code execution capabilities. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution flaw that can be leveraged for complete system compromise, as demonstrated by the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and script injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any organization running the affected Cerulean Portal System version 0.7b. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and the establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the portal system, as it allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and directly manipulate the server's execution environment. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive data, system integrity violations, and potential service disruption. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish footholds for further lateral movement within networks, as highlighted by ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-0684 should focus on immediate patching of the affected software, as the vendor has likely released security updates to address this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent user-supplied data from being used in file inclusion operations. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that web applications run with minimal required permissions and that file inclusion operations are restricted to predefined safe paths. Additionally, organizations should implement web application firewalls and input validation rules that can detect and block suspicious URL patterns in parameters. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous file inclusion patterns and unauthorized code execution attempts, as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework's detection and response capabilities. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar patterns of insecure parameter handling that could lead to similar remote code execution vulnerabilities.