CVE-2007-5149 in Public Media Manager
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in NewsCMS/news/newstopic_inc.php in North Country Public Radio Public Media Manager (PMM) 1.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the indir parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5149 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the North Country Public Radio Public Media Manager version 1.3 software. This vulnerability exists in the news/newstopic_inc.php component where the application fails to properly validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into file inclusion operations. The specific weakness occurs when the indir parameter is passed to the script, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary URLs that the application will attempt to include and execute as PHP code. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of insecure direct object references and remote code execution flaws that have been consistently documented in security frameworks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the application's improper handling of the indir parameter which is directly used in a file inclusion context without adequate sanitization or validation. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL and passes it through the indir parameter, the vulnerable application processes this input and attempts to include the remote file, effectively executing any PHP code contained within that file. This behavior constitutes a classic remote file inclusion vulnerability that aligns with CWE-88 and CWE-94 categories, representing both improper neutralization of argument delimiters in a command and improper neutralization of data within a code context. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and secure coding practices within the application's file handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for systems running the affected software. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the target server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of backdoors. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the Public Media Manager application, which could result in unauthorized access to sensitive content management systems and disruption of public media services. Organizations relying on this software for news management and content delivery face significant risks including potential exposure of unpublished content, modification of news articles, and complete takeover of the content management infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1190 for exploit public-facing application, highlighting the operational security implications for media organizations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the vendor, as the affected version 1.3 of the Public Media Manager contains this critical flaw. Organizations should implement input validation measures that sanitize all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file inclusion operations, by employing allowlists of acceptable values and rejecting any input containing suspicious characters or URL patterns. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to block requests containing potentially malicious URL patterns in the indir parameter. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and least privilege principles for file inclusion operations can significantly reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. System administrators should also consider disabling remote file inclusion capabilities entirely within the application configuration and monitor for any suspicious file inclusion activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments in content management systems, particularly those handling sensitive public information.