CVE-2007-5166 in SiteSys
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in SiteSys 1.0a allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the doc_root parameter to (1) inc/pagehead.inc.php or (2) inc/pageinit.inc.php.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5166 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the SiteSys 1.0a content management system that exposes organizations to arbitrary code execution attacks. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input within the doc_root parameter, which is processed in two distinct include files: inc/pagehead.inc.php and inc/pageinit.inc.php. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary PHP code on the target server by manipulating the URL parameter that controls the document root path.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-88, which classifies it as a command injection flaw where user input is directly incorporated into file inclusion operations without proper sanitization or validation. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal and remote code execution pattern where the application fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied URLs before using them in include statements. When an attacker supplies a malicious URL in the doc_root parameter, the PHP interpreter processes this input as a legitimate file path, effectively allowing the execution of remote code on the vulnerable server.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5166 extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected system. Successful exploitation enables threat actors to upload and execute malicious payloads, establish persistent backdoors, and potentially escalate privileges to gain administrative access to the entire web application environment. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of SiteSys 1.0a by compromising the integrity of the application's include mechanism, which is fundamental to the system's page rendering and initialization processes. Attackers can leverage this weakness to compromise not only the target web server but also potentially access underlying database systems and other connected resources.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically categorizing it under the T1190 technique for exploiting vulnerabilities in remote services. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard web-based attack vectors without requiring special privileges or advanced technical knowledge. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling remote file inclusion capabilities, validating all user input through strict whitelisting mechanisms, and ensuring proper parameter sanitization before any file inclusion operations occur. Additionally, network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The remediation process should also include comprehensive code review to identify similar patterns in other parts of the application and ensure that all include operations properly validate their input sources.