CVE-2007-4608 in ePersonnel
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in protection.php in ePersonnel RC_2004_02 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the logout_page parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4608 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the ePersonnel RC_2004_02 web application's protection.php script. This issue falls under the category of insecure direct object references and improper input validation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input passed through the logout_page parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious URLs that are then included and executed as PHP code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic remote file inclusion attack vector where the protection.php script accepts external URLs through the logout_page parameter without adequate sanitization. When an attacker supplies a malicious URL containing PHP code, the application's inclusion mechanism processes this input and executes the remote code as if it were local content. This flaw directly maps to CWE-88, which describes improper neutralization of argument delimiters in a command or injection attack, and CWE-94, which addresses the execution of arbitrary code or commands. The vulnerability exploits the application's trust in user input and its failure to implement proper input validation controls.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents severe security implications for organizations running the affected ePersonnel application. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to the system, potentially leading to complete compromise of the web server. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring local access or authentication. This vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the web server process, potentially allowing them to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential data breaches, system infiltration, and service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4608 should focus on immediate defensive measures including disabling remote file inclusion capabilities in the application, implementing strict input validation for all user-supplied parameters, and applying the vendor-provided security patches. Organizations should configure their web applications to reject external URL inclusion and instead enforce the use of local file paths or validated internal references. The implementation of proper parameter validation and sanitization techniques, including the use of allowlists for acceptable input values, can prevent malicious URLs from being processed. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by running web applications with minimal required permissions and implementing proper access controls. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of file inclusion requests and parameter manipulation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the use of remote file inclusion attacks to gain access to systems, and T1059, which covers the execution of commands through various interfaces including web-based applications. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their web applications.