CVE-2007-3217 in Prototype of an PHP application
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in Prototype of an PHP application 0.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the path_inc parameter to (1) index.php in gestion/; (2) identification.php, (3) disconnect.php, (4) loginliste.php, (5) loginmodif.php, (6) index.php, and (7) ident.inc.php in ident/; (8) menuadministration.php and (9) menuprincipal.php in menu/; (10) param.inc.php in param/; (11) index.php in plugins/phpgacl/; and (12) index.php and (13) common.inc.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3217 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw affecting Prototype of an PHP application version 0.1. This issue stems from improper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's codebase, specifically in how the path_inc parameter is handled across multiple script files. The vulnerability manifests when user-supplied input is directly incorporated into file inclusion directives without adequate verification or filtering, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary URLs that point to remote malicious code repositories.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the path_inc parameter in various PHP scripts throughout the application's directory structure. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL and injects it into the path_inc parameter, the application's file inclusion mechanism processes this input without proper validation, leading to the execution of arbitrary PHP code from remote locations. This vulnerability affects multiple entry points across different directories including gestion/, ident/, menu/, param/, and plugins/phpgacl/, demonstrating the widespread nature of the flawed implementation. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-98, which describes improper file inclusion vulnerabilities where a web application includes files without proper validation of the file path, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote file inclusion vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for affected systems. An unauthenticated remote attacker can execute arbitrary code on the target server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation and lateral movement within the network, as the executed code runs with the privileges of the web server process. This creates a significant attack surface where attackers can establish backdoors, steal sensitive information, or use the compromised server as a launch point for further attacks against internal network resources. The widespread nature of affected files means that exploitation can occur through multiple attack vectors, increasing the probability of successful compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file inclusion operations. This includes using allowlists of permitted values, implementing strict path validation, and employing secure coding practices such as using absolute paths instead of relative ones. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and input filtering mechanisms at the web server level, such as using mod_security rules to detect and block suspicious URL patterns. Additionally, the application should be updated to use modern PHP security practices including the use of include_once or require_once with proper path validation, and implementing a whitelist approach for all file inclusion operations. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, as this represents a common class of vulnerability that affects many legacy PHP applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1590 for reconnaissance activities targeting web applications.