CVE-2007-5258 in phpFreeLog
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in log.php in phpFreeLog alpha 0.2.0 allows remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary files via unspecified vectors. NOTE: the original disclosure is likely erroneous.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5258 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the phpFreeLog alpha 0.2.0 web application. This issue resides within the log.php component and demonstrates a classic security weakness that has been widely documented in web application security literature. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to manipulate application behavior by injecting and executing arbitrary code through file inclusion mechanisms, creating a significant attack surface that could lead to complete system compromise.
This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure direct object reference and improper input validation as classified by CWE-22 and CWE-94 respectively. The technical flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input that is used in file inclusion operations. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that gets processed by the log.php script, potentially allowing them to include remote files from external servers or local system files that should remain inaccessible to unauthorized users.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5258 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and potentially gain full control over the affected web server. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target system, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or further lateral movement within network environments.
Security professionals should consider implementing multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including input validation, proper file inclusion practices, and network segmentation. The remediation process requires immediate patching of the affected application to ensure that user input is properly sanitized and validated before being used in any file inclusion operations. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and restricting file inclusion from external sources can provide additional protection against similar vulnerabilities that may exist in legacy applications.
The original disclosure of this vulnerability likely contained errors or incomplete information, which is common with older security advisories where the initial analysis may not have fully understood the attack vectors available to malicious actors. Modern security practices emphasize the importance of thorough vulnerability assessment and validation, particularly for legacy systems that may contain multiple undiscovered flaws. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their web applications to identify similar remote file inclusion vulnerabilities that may not have been properly documented in historical advisories.