CVE-2007-1413 in PHP
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the snmpget function in the snmp extension in PHP 5.2.3 and earlier, including PHP 4.4.6 and probably other PHP 4 versions, allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long value in the third argument (object id).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1413 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Simple Network Management Protocol snmp extension of PHP versions 5.2.3 and earlier, including PHP 4.4.6 and potentially other PHP 4 variants. This issue resides in the snmpget function which is part of the SNMP extension module, making it accessible to web applications that utilize PHP for network management tasks. The buffer overflow occurs specifically when processing the third argument of the snmpget function, which is designated as the object identifier or oid parameter.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the snmpget function. When an attacker provides an excessively long value for the object identifier parameter, the function fails to properly validate the input length before copying it into a fixed-size buffer allocated in memory. This classic buffer overflow condition allows malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow. The vulnerability is context-dependent because it requires that the target system be running an affected PHP version with the SNMP extension enabled and that the vulnerable application invoke the snmpget function with user-controllable input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for affected systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this buffer overflow can achieve arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the web server process, which typically runs with elevated permissions on the hosting system. This exploitation capability enables attackers to gain full control over the affected web server, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects not only individual web applications but also the entire hosting environment, as the attack vector operates through the PHP interpreter itself rather than requiring specific application-level vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-1413 should prioritize immediate patching of affected PHP installations to versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement input validation measures at application level to restrict the length of object identifier parameters passed to snmpget functions, though this represents a secondary defense mechanism. Network segmentation and privilege separation practices should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper input handling can lead to remote code execution. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability would map to techniques involving buffer overflow exploitation within web application contexts and could be categorized under the attack pattern of code injection. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious SNMP-related traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping server-side scripting environments updated and highlights the risks associated with legacy software deployments in production environments.