CVE-2007-1843 in MapLab
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in gmapfactory/params.php in MapLab 2.2.1, when register_globals is enabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the gszAppPath parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1843 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the MapLab 2.2.1 web application that specifically exploits the dangerous combination of PHP's register_globals directive and insecure parameter handling. This vulnerability resides within the gmapfactory/params.php file and demonstrates a classic path traversal and code execution vector that has been prevalent in web application security for over a decade. The flaw exploits the insecure practice of directly incorporating user-supplied input into PHP include or require statements without proper validation or sanitization, creating an attack surface that can be leveraged by malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary PHP code on the target server.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability stems from the PHP configuration where register_globals is enabled, which automatically creates global variables from GET, POST, and cookie data. When an attacker crafts a malicious request containing a URL in the gszAppPath parameter, the vulnerable application processes this input directly within an include statement. This allows the attacker to specify any remote URL that contains PHP code, which gets executed on the server as if it were part of the legitimate application code. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-88 as a Command Injection and also aligns with CWE-94 as Code Injection, representing a fundamental failure in input validation and secure coding practices. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands through the PHP interpreter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected server. Once exploited, attackers can upload backdoors, steal sensitive data, modify application functionality, or use the compromised server as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privileges to exploit and can be automated through various attack frameworks. The attack vector is straightforward: an attacker simply needs to craft a URL with malicious content in the gszAppPath parameter, making it an attractive target for automated scanning tools. Organizations running MapLab 2.2.1 with register_globals enabled are at significant risk, as this vulnerability bypasses many traditional security controls and can be exploited without requiring authentication or advanced technical knowledge. The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in complete system compromise, data breaches, and potential regulatory compliance violations depending on the nature of the data processed by the vulnerable application. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability exemplifies why modern web applications should never rely on deprecated PHP configurations and should implement proper input validation, output encoding, and secure coding practices to prevent such critical flaws from being introduced into production systems.
This vulnerability serves as a historical example of why the security community has moved away from configurations that automatically create global variables from user input. The requirement for register_globals to be enabled for exploitation highlights the importance of proper PHP security configuration and the necessity of following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP PHP Security Configuration Guide. Modern defensive strategies should focus on input validation, secure coding practices, and the elimination of dangerous PHP configurations that create automatic variable creation from user-supplied data. The vulnerability also demonstrates the critical importance of keeping web applications updated and patched, as the MapLab 2.2.1 version was vulnerable to this flaw, and newer versions would have addressed these security concerns through proper input validation and secure coding practices. Organizations should implement automated vulnerability scanning and continuous monitoring to detect and remediate such issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.