CVE-2007-2141 in ShoutPro
Summary
by MITRE
Direct static code injection vulnerability in shoutbox.php in ShoutPro 1.5.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary PHP code into shouts.php via the shout parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2141 represents a critical direct static code injection flaw within the ShoutPro 1.5.2 web application, specifically affecting the shoutbox.php component. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input parameters, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code on the affected server. The flaw manifests when the shout parameter in shoutbox.php fails to properly sanitize or validate user-provided input before incorporating it into the application's output processing logic. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-94, which encompasses weaknesses related to the execution of arbitrary code or commands, making it a significant concern for web application security. The attack vector leverages the insecure direct object reference pattern where user input directly influences server-side code execution without proper sanitization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the shout parameter within the shoutbox.php script, which then gets processed and reflected in the shouts.php output. When an attacker submits malicious PHP code through this parameter, the application fails to implement proper input validation or output encoding, allowing the injected code to be executed as part of the server-side processing. This creates a persistent code injection scenario where the attacker's malicious payload becomes part of the application's runtime environment, potentially enabling full server compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms, which are fundamental security practices recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the execution and command injection categories. The absence of proper parameter validation creates a direct pathway for attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to the underlying server resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary commands on the web server hosting the ShoutPro application. Successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and the establishment of persistent backdoors within the affected environment. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the web application and associated systems, potentially leading to service disruption and unauthorized data access. Organizations running vulnerable versions of ShoutPro face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage this flaw from outside the network perimeter without requiring local access or credentials, making it particularly dangerous in production environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2141 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the ShoutPro application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-provided input through strict validation processes that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters and code sequences. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation techniques that ensure user input conforms to expected formats and does not contain executable code patterns. The application should employ output encoding when displaying user content to prevent code execution in the browser context. Additionally, implementing a web application firewall that can detect and block suspicious input patterns can provide an additional layer of protection. Regular security updates and patches should be applied to address known vulnerabilities, with the specific fix involving proper input sanitization in the shoutbox.php script to prevent direct code injection. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to command and script injection, emphasizing the importance of input validation and output encoding as core defensive measures against such vulnerabilities.