CVE-2007-2148 in Chatness
Summary
by MITRE
Direct static code injection vulnerability in admin/save.php in Stephen Craton (aka WiredPHP) Chatness 2.5.3 and earlier allows remote authenticated administrators to inject PHP code into .html files via the html parameter, as demonstrated by head.html and foot.html, which are included and executed upon a direct request for index.php. NOTE: a separate vulnerability could be leveraged to make this issue exploitable by remote unauthenticated attackers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2025
The CVE-2007-2148 vulnerability represents a critical direct static code injection flaw within the WiredPHP Chatness 2.5.3 and earlier versions, specifically targeting the administrative component of the application. This vulnerability exists in the admin/save.php file where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into HTML template files. The flaw allows authenticated administrators to inject malicious PHP code into .html files through the html parameter, creating a persistent code execution vector that can be leveraged for unauthorized system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding practices within the application's administrative interface. When administrators interact with the save.php script, the html parameter is directly incorporated into template files such as head.html and foot.html without adequate sanitization or context-appropriate encoding. These template files are subsequently included and executed during the processing of index.php requests, creating a code injection pathway that transforms what should be safe HTML content into executable PHP code. The vulnerability operates under CWE-94, which classifies it as a "Failure to Sanitize Special Elements into a Different Plane" and specifically falls under the category of "Code Injection" where untrusted data is used to construct code that gets executed by the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent backdoor mechanism within the web application. Once an authenticated administrator's credentials are compromised or obtained, the attacker can inject malicious code that persists across application sessions and can be executed whenever the affected pages are accessed. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on the application, as the injected code can be used to establish command and control channels, exfiltrate sensitive data, or perform additional malicious activities. The vulnerability's exploitation can be escalated to include privilege escalation and lateral movement within the network, particularly when combined with the noted secondary vulnerability that could make the issue exploitable by unauthenticated attackers.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1059.007 technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PHP" and T1566.001 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment". The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with the broader category of web application attacks that leverage authenticated access to achieve code execution, and it represents a classic example of how administrative interfaces can become attack vectors when proper input validation is not implemented. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input sanitization, output encoding, and strict access controls to prevent unauthorized administrative access. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and the need for regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar injection flaws that could exist in other parts of the application or related systems.