CVE-2007-2142 in AjPortal2Php
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in AjPortal2Php allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the PagePrefix parameter to (1) begin.inc.php, (2) connection.inc.php, (3) events.inc.php, (4) footer.inc.php, (5) header.inc.php, (6) menuleft.inc.php, or (7) pages.inc.php in includes/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2142 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw affecting AjPortal2Php version 2.0 and potentially other versions of the application. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of user-supplied input through the PagePrefix parameter, which is processed in multiple include files located in the includes/ directory. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the application's execution flow by injecting malicious URLs that are subsequently included and executed as PHP code. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object references and represents a classic path traversal attack vector that can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the PagePrefix parameter before using it in include statements. When an attacker supplies a malicious URL as the PagePrefix value, the application's code processes this input without adequate security controls, leading to the inclusion of external files that contain attacker-controlled PHP code. The vulnerability affects seven distinct include files including begin.inc.php, connection.inc.php, events.inc.php, footer.inc.php, header.inc.php, menuleft.inc.php, and pages.inc.php, indicating a systemic flaw in the application's input handling mechanisms. This widespread impact across multiple include files suggests that the vulnerability exists at a core level in the application's architecture rather than being isolated to a single component.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for affected systems. Remote attackers can execute arbitrary PHP code on the target server, which provides them with complete control over the application and potentially the underlying operating system. This capability enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, installation of backdoors, and further network reconnaissance. The vulnerability essentially transforms the application into a remote command execution platform, allowing attackers to bypass traditional security controls and gain persistent access to the compromised system. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects core application functionality files that are likely essential for normal application operation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security flaw and implement broader defensive measures to prevent similar issues in the future. The primary fix involves implementing strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in include statements. Applications should employ whitelisting approaches where only predefined, safe values are accepted for the PagePrefix parameter. Additionally, the application should disable remote file inclusion capabilities entirely by configuring PHP settings to prevent inclusion of remote files. Security controls should also include input encoding, output filtering, and proper error handling to prevent information leakage. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-434 which specifically addresses insecure file upload and inclusion, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services. Organizations should also implement network segmentation, web application firewalls, and regular security assessments to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities in their application portfolios.