CVE-2007-2541 in Versado CMS
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in includes/ajax_listado.php in Versado CMS 1.07 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the urlModulo parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2541 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the Versado CMS version 1.07, specifically affecting the includes/ajax_listado.php script. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object reference and remote code execution risks, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that fail to properly validate user input. The flaw exists due to insufficient sanitization of the urlModulo parameter, which is directly incorporated into the script without proper validation or encoding checks, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary PHP code on the target server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of user-supplied input within the PHP application context. When the urlModulo parameter is passed to the ajax_listado.php script, the application directly uses this parameter to include external resources without adequate verification of the source or content. This behavior aligns with CWE-98, which describes improper control of code generation, and represents a classic example of a remote file inclusion vulnerability. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that point to remote servers hosting malicious PHP payloads, which then get executed on the vulnerable CMS server with the privileges of the web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected web server. Once exploited, adversaries can upload additional malicious files, establish backdoors, modify existing content, or even use the compromised server as a launch point for further attacks within the network. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for execution of commands through web shells. The risk is compounded by the fact that this vulnerability affects a content management system, which typically has elevated privileges and access to sensitive data, making the potential damage significantly greater than in regular web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and sanitization measures within the affected application. Organizations should implement strict parameter validation that rejects any input containing suspicious characters or patterns, particularly those associated with URL schemes and file inclusion attempts. The recommended approach includes implementing a whitelist-based validation system where only predetermined, safe values are accepted for the urlModulo parameter. Additionally, the application should be updated to use secure coding practices such as the include_once function with proper path validation, or better yet, eliminate dynamic file inclusion altogether. Security patches should be applied immediately to upgrade to a patched version of Versado CMS, as the vulnerability has been widely documented and exploited in the wild since its disclosure. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for attempts to exploit this specific vulnerability pattern, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other components of their web infrastructure.