CVE-2007-5705 in Jeebles Directory
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Settings component in the administration system in Jeebles Directory 2.9.60 allows remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary PHP code via unspecified vectors related to settings.inc.php. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5705 affects the Jeebles Directory 2.9.60 administration system, specifically within the Settings component. This represents a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary PHP code, fundamentally undermining the system's security posture. The vulnerability resides in the settings.inc.php file, which serves as a critical configuration management interface within the administrative framework.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the settings component. When authenticated administrators access the administrative interface to modify system settings, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing it within the PHP execution environment. This creates a code injection pathway where maliciously crafted input can be interpreted and executed as PHP code by the web server. The vulnerability's classification as a remote authenticated attack vector indicates that an attacker must first obtain valid administrative credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations using Jeebles Directory 2.9.60. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain full administrative control over the directory service, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or use as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The arbitrary code execution capability provides attackers with extensive flexibility to install backdoors, modify system configurations, or escalate privileges beyond the initial administrative access. Organizations relying on this directory service for user authentication and access control would face significant security implications, as the vulnerability could be exploited to bypass authentication mechanisms or manipulate user permissions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python." While the specific attack vectors remain unspecified in the public description, the nature of the flaw suggests potential exploitation through parameter manipulation in the settings interface. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation efforts including applying available patches, implementing network segmentation to limit administrative access, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The lack of detailed information regarding the exact exploitation method underscores the importance of proactive security measures and the need for comprehensive vulnerability assessment across all administrative components. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls to mitigate similar risks in other applications that may exhibit similar vulnerabilities in their configuration management systems.