CVE-2007-5056 in CMS Made Simple
Summary
by MITRE
Eval injection vulnerability in adodb-perf-module.inc.php in ADOdb Lite 1.42 and earlier, as used in products including CMS Made Simple, SAPID CMF, Journalness, PacerCMS, and Open-Realty, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via PHP sequences in the last_module parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2024
The CVE-2007-5056 vulnerability represents a critical server-side code injection flaw within the ADOdb Lite 1.42 and earlier versions, specifically affecting the adodb-perf-module.inc.php component. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the database abstraction layer that processes user-supplied data. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly escape or validate the last_module parameter, which is processed through PHP evaluation functions that execute arbitrary code based on input data. The vulnerability affects multiple content management systems and web applications that rely on ADOdb Lite for database operations, including CMS Made Simple, SAPID CMF, Journalness, PacerCMS, and Open-Realty, making it a widespread concern across numerous web platforms. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-94, which specifically addresses "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.006 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell", though the execution mechanism here involves PHP code evaluation rather than PowerShell.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malicious payloads containing PHP code sequences within the last_module parameter of the affected applications. When the vulnerable application processes this parameter, it passes the unvalidated input directly to PHP evaluation functions such as eval(), which then executes the injected code with the privileges of the web application. This creates a severe attack surface where attackers can potentially gain complete control over the affected web server, execute arbitrary commands, access sensitive data, and establish persistent access. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects database performance monitoring modules that are typically exposed to external input, making the attack vector accessible through normal web application interaction patterns. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass normal application security controls and execute malicious code directly within the application's execution context.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5056 extends beyond simple code execution, creating a comprehensive attack surface that can lead to full system compromise. Successful exploitation enables attackers to perform data exfiltration, modify application behavior, install backdoors, and potentially escalate privileges to gain administrative access to the underlying web server. The vulnerability affects not only the targeted applications but also poses risks to the entire hosting environment, as compromised web applications can serve as entry points for broader network infiltration. Organizations running affected versions of these applications face potential data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations, particularly in regulated environments where data protection and security auditing are mandatory. The long-term implications include ongoing security maintenance costs, potential legal liabilities, and damage to organizational reputation from data exposure incidents.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5056 require immediate action to upgrade affected applications to patched versions of ADOdb Lite or implement comprehensive input validation controls. Organizations should prioritize updating to ADOdb Lite 1.43 or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and parameter validation. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with signature-based detection for known malicious patterns can provide interim protection while upgrades are pending. Input validation measures should include strict parameter filtering, sanitization of user-supplied data, and removal of dangerous PHP functions from application execution paths. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual parameter patterns in application logs, particularly around database performance monitoring endpoints. Regular security audits and penetration testing of web applications can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other components, while implementing principle of least privilege for database connections and application accounts can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all affected systems.