CVE-2007-3371 in Powl
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in plugins/widgets/htmledit/htmledit.php in Powl 0.94 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the _POWL[installPath] parameter.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3371 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the Powl content management system version 0.94. This security weakness exists in the plugins/widgets/htmledit/htmledit.php component and allows malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary PHP code on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability specifically targets the _POWL[installPath] parameter, which is improperly validated and sanitized, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted input.
This flaw constitutes a classic remote code execution vulnerability that aligns with CWE-94, which describes the weakness of allowing untrusted data to influence the control flow or data flow of a program. The vulnerability operates by accepting user-supplied input through the _POWL[installPath] parameter and directly incorporating it into file inclusion operations without proper validation or sanitization. Attackers can exploit this by providing a malicious URL as the parameter value, which then gets processed by the PHP include function, effectively allowing remote code execution on the target server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected system. Once exploited, malicious actors can execute arbitrary commands, access sensitive data, install backdoors, and potentially escalate privileges within the compromised environment. The vulnerability affects the entire Powl 0.94 installation and can lead to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and disruption of services. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web hosting environments where multiple sites may be hosted on the same server, potentially allowing attackers to compromise additional systems through lateral movement.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for execution of code through command and scripting interpreter. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication as it only requires sending a specially crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable parameter, making it particularly attractive to automated attack tools. Organizations running Powl 0.94 are at significant risk of exploitation, especially if they have not implemented proper input validation or if the system is accessible from the internet without proper network segmentation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected software to the latest available version that addresses this specific flaw. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures can help prevent similar issues in the future. Security measures including web application firewalls, input filtering, and proper parameter validation should be deployed to protect against similar remote file inclusion attacks. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify and remediate other potential injection vulnerabilities, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security weaknesses in the application architecture that require comprehensive remediation rather than isolated fixes.