CVE-2007-1460 in PHP
Summary
by MITRE
The zip:// URL wrapper provided by the PECL zip extension in PHP before 4.4.7, and 5.2.0 and 5.2.1, does not implement safemode or open_basedir checks, which allows remote attackers to read ZIP archives located outside of the intended directories.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1460 represents a critical security flaw in the PHP PECL zip extension that persisted across multiple versions of the PHP runtime environment. This issue specifically affects the zip:// URL wrapper implementation, which is designed to allow PHP applications to read files from ZIP archives using standard file system functions. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper access control mechanisms within the zip wrapper, creating a pathway for unauthorized file access that bypasses fundamental security restrictions.
The technical implementation of this flaw lies in the zip:// URL wrapper's failure to respect PHP's safemode and open_basedir restrictions. These security mechanisms are fundamental components of PHP's security architecture designed to limit file system access to specific directories and prevent malicious actors from traversing the file system beyond intended boundaries. When the zip wrapper ignores these restrictions, it allows remote attackers to specify arbitrary file paths within ZIP archives, enabling access to files that should otherwise be protected by directory-based security controls. This behavior directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates a significant attack surface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to access sensitive files such as configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other confidential data stored outside the web root directory. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting malicious URLs that point to ZIP archives containing files outside the intended directory structure, potentially leading to complete system compromise if the archives contain sensitive configuration files or application source code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments where multiple applications reside on the same server and rely on these security mechanisms for isolation.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22 known as "Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python" and T1566.001 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" in the context of exploitation vectors. The weakness exists in the implementation of the zip wrapper within the PHP PECL extension, specifically in the URL stream wrapper functionality that should enforce access controls. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in the security model of PHP's file system access controls and highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control enforcement in extension modules.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected PHP installations to versions 4.4.7, 5.2.0, and 5.2.1 or later, which contain the necessary security fixes. Administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including restricting PHP's ability to access external resources through configuration parameters, monitoring for unusual file access patterns, and ensuring that all web applications properly validate and sanitize user inputs. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify that the zip wrapper functionality is properly configured and that access controls are functioning as intended. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software and the potential consequences of security flaws in core system components.