CVE-2007-2092 in Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Direct static code injection vulnerability in index.php in Limesoft Guestbook (LS Simple Guestbook) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary PHP code into posts.txt via the name parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical direct static code injection flaw in the LS Simple Guestbook application that affects the index.php script. The vulnerability specifically targets the name parameter which is processed without proper input validation or sanitization, allowing remote attackers to inject malicious PHP code directly into the posts.txt file that stores guestbook entries. The attack vector operates through the manipulation of user-supplied input where the name parameter is directly incorporated into the application's output without adequate security controls. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of code injection attacks and demonstrates a fundamental failure in input handling practices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's lack of proper sanitization mechanisms when processing user input. When users submit guestbook entries through the name parameter, the application accepts this input verbatim and writes it to the posts.txt file without any filtering or encoding of special characters that could be interpreted as PHP code. This creates an environment where attackers can embed executable PHP code within the name field, which then gets stored and potentially executed when the guestbook entries are displayed or processed. The vulnerability is classified as a direct injection because the malicious code is injected directly into the application's data storage rather than being executed through a separate command injection or execution path.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary PHP code on the target system. Once the malicious code is injected into the posts.txt file, it can be executed whenever the guestbook application processes and displays the entries, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over the web server. This could lead to data theft, system compromise, or the installation of backdoors. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the web application's data storage, as user entries become a vector for code execution. The risk is amplified because the injection occurs at the data persistence layer, meaning that the malicious code can persist across multiple requests and potentially affect multiple users.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. The application must validate all user-supplied input through whitelisting approaches that only allow expected characters and patterns. Additionally, proper output encoding should be implemented when displaying user-generated content to prevent the execution of embedded code. The solution aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-94 which addresses "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and follows attack technique T1059 from the attack tactics and techniques framework. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation, employ secure coding practices, and conduct regular security assessments to prevent similar injection vulnerabilities from occurring in web applications. The remediation process requires immediate patching of the affected application and implementation of comprehensive input validation across all user-facing parameters.