CVE-2007-5160 in Restaurant Management System
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in Thierry Leriche Restaurant Management System (ReMaSys) 0.5 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in (1) the DIR_ROOT parameter to (a) global.php, or the (2) DIR_PAGE parameter to (b) template/fr/page.php or (c) page/fr/boxConnection.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2017
The CVE-2007-5160 vulnerability represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw discovered in Thierry Leriche Restaurant Management System version 0.5, a web-based restaurant management solution that was widely deployed in the hospitality industry. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object references and improper input validation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw exists due to insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters that are directly incorporated into file inclusion operations without proper validation or filtering mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters before using them in dynamic file inclusion operations. Specifically, the DIR_ROOT parameter in global.php and the DIR_PAGE parameter in template/fr/page.php and page/fr/boxConnection.php accept user-provided URLs without adequate input validation. When an attacker supplies a malicious URL through these parameters, the application's file inclusion mechanism attempts to load and execute the remote file, effectively allowing code execution on the target server. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-88, which describes improper neutralization of argument delimiters in a command, and CWE-94, which covers improper execution of code through dynamic calls or file inclusion.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected server. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary PHP code, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability affects the entire application stack, as the compromised server can be used as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications that handle sensitive customer data, as the attacker could access payment information, personal details, and other confidential business data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms throughout the application. The primary fix involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects any input containing suspicious characters or patterns, particularly those associated with remote file inclusion attempts. Organizations should implement the principle of least privilege by ensuring that file inclusion operations use predefined, whitelisted values rather than user-provided parameters. Additionally, the application should be configured to disable remote file inclusion capabilities entirely, as this feature is rarely necessary for legitimate business operations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications, and T1059, which covers executing malicious code through command and scripting interpreters. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the application.