CVE-2007-3085 in PBSite
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in PBSite allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the (1) dbpath parameter to (a) useronline.php, (b) ucp.php, (c) setcookie.php, (d) sendpm.php, (e) search.php, (f) register.php, (g) profile.php, (h) post.php, (i) pmpshow.php, (j) pm.php, (k) ntopic.php, (l) nreply.php, (m) news.php, (n) memberslist.php, (o) logout.php, (p) login.php, (q) index.php, (r) help.php, (s) forum.php, (t) error.php, (u) editpost.php, (v) delpost.php, (w) delpm.php, (x) confirm.php, (y) board.php, (z) admin2.php, (aa) admin.php, or (bb) templates/pb/css/formstyles.php; or the (2) temppath parameter to (a) useronline.php, (c) setcookie.php, (e) search.php, (f) register.php, (h) post.php, (l) nreply.php, (m) news.php, (o) logout.php, (p) login.php, (q) index.php, (r) help.php, (s) forum.php, (t) error.php, (w) delpm.php, (x) confirm.php, or (y) board.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2017
This vulnerability represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the PBSite PHP application that exposes multiple entry points for attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters that are directly used in file inclusion operations. Attackers can manipulate the dbpath and temppath parameters to inject malicious URLs that get included and executed by the PHP interpreter, creating a persistent backdoor or execution channel for remote code execution.
The technical exploitation occurs through the direct concatenation or inclusion of user-controllable input without proper validation or sanitization. When the application processes parameters like dbpath or temppath, it accepts URLs that point to external resources, allowing attackers to host malicious PHP code on remote servers and have the target application fetch and execute it. This pattern violates fundamental security principles and creates a pathway for attackers to bypass normal application boundaries and execute arbitrary commands on the web server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected web application and potentially the underlying server. The vulnerability affects numerous core application files, creating multiple attack vectors that increase the probability of successful exploitation. Attackers can leverage this to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, steal sensitive data, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The widespread nature of affected files also means that successful exploitation can compromise critical application functionality and user data.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability include implementing strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file inclusion operations. The application should enforce whitelisting of allowed file paths and reject any input containing URLs or external references. Additionally, disabling remote file inclusion in PHP configuration and implementing proper parameter validation using regular expressions or allowlists can prevent exploitation. Organizations should also implement network segmentation, web application firewalls, and regular security assessments to detect and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-98 and CWE-88 categories related to improper input validation and remote file inclusion, and maps to ATT&CK techniques involving remote code execution and privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities.