CVE-2007-1459 in WebCreator
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in WebCreator 0.2.6-rc3 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the moddir parameter to (1) content/load.inc.php, (2) config/load.inc.php, (3) http/load.inc.php, and unspecified other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1459 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw affecting WebCreator version 0.2.6-rc3 and earlier. This issue stems from improper input validation within the application's file inclusion mechanisms, specifically targeting the moddir parameter in multiple include files. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-98 Improper Control of Generation of Code, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems that allows attackers to inject malicious code through file inclusion paths. The affected files content/load.inc.php, config/load.inc.php, and http/load.inc.php all demonstrate this susceptibility, creating multiple attack vectors for potential exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the PHP include functionality by accepting user-supplied URLs through the moddir parameter without proper sanitization or validation. When an attacker provides a malicious URL as the moddir value, the application processes this input and attempts to include the remote file, effectively executing arbitrary PHP code on the target server. This type of vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution (RCE) attack vector, which provides adversaries with the capability to execute commands on the affected system with the privileges of the web server process. The attack operates through the standard PHP include mechanism that permits dynamic file inclusion based on runtime parameters, creating an exploitable path where external content can be seamlessly integrated into the application's execution flow.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-1459 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected web server environment. Once exploited, attackers can upload additional malicious files, establish persistent backdoors, access sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised server as a launch point for further attacks against internal networks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple include files increases the attack surface, meaning that even if one path is patched, other similar vulnerabilities may still remain exploitable. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on outdated WebCreator versions, as the attack surface is not limited to a single point of failure but spans across multiple application components. The vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python, which describes how attackers can leverage interpreted languages to execute malicious code remotely.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention through patching and code review processes. Organizations should upgrade to WebCreator versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as the maintainers would have implemented proper input validation and sanitization for the moddir parameter. The recommended approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects external URLs and ensures all file inclusion paths are properly sanitized before being processed by PHP's include functions. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by configuring web server permissions to limit the execution capabilities of PHP scripts. Security measures should include disabling remote file inclusion features in PHP configuration, implementing web application firewalls to detect suspicious include patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten 2017 category A03: Injection, emphasizing that proper sanitization of user inputs is critical to prevent exploitation of such remote file inclusion vulnerabilities.