CVE-2007-1052 in PBLang
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in index.php in PBLang (PBL) 4.60 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the dbpath parameter, a different vector than CVE-2006-5062. NOTE: this issue has been disputed by a reliable third party for 4.65, stating that the dbpath variable is initialized in an included file that is created upon installation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1052 represents a remote file inclusion flaw affecting PBLang version 4.60 and earlier, specifically within the index.php script. This issue falls under the category of insecure direct object references and remote code execution vulnerabilities that have been historically significant in web application security. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the dbpath parameter through URL input, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution on the target system. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can provide attackers with full control over the affected server, enabling them to execute malicious commands, access sensitive data, or establish persistent access.
The technical flaw resides in the improper validation and sanitization of user-supplied input within the dbpath parameter. When a malicious user provides a URL as the value for dbpath, the application fails to properly validate this input before using it in file inclusion operations. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject external URLs that point to malicious PHP scripts hosted on remote servers. The vulnerability is classified as a remote file inclusion (RFI) issue, which is categorized under CWE-88 and CWE-94 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. These weaknesses represent direct object references that are not properly validated, leading to code execution vulnerabilities that align with the ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and compromise the entire web server infrastructure. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can potentially gain access to database credentials, user information, and other sensitive system resources. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of PBLang's database path handling mechanism, where the dbpath variable is intended to point to local database configuration files but can be manipulated to reference external resources. This creates a significant risk for organizations using affected versions of PBLang, as the vulnerability can be exploited without authentication and can result in complete system compromise.
Security practitioners should note that while this vulnerability has been disputed by a third party for version 4.65, indicating that the dbpath variable is initialized in an included file created during installation, the vulnerability remains relevant for older versions of the software. Organizations using PBLang 4.60 or earlier must implement immediate mitigations including input validation, disabling remote file inclusion capabilities, and updating to patched versions of the software. The recommended remediation strategies include implementing proper parameter validation, using allowlist-based input filtering, and ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed by the application. Additionally, network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.