CVE-2008-0390 in AuraCMS
Summary
by MITRE
stat.php in AuraCMS 1.62, and Mod Block Statistik for AuraCMS, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary PHP code into online.db.txt via the X-Forwarded-For HTTP header in a stat action to index.php, and execute online.db.txt via a certain request to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0390 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within AuraCMS 1.62 and its associated Mod Block Statistik component. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter malicious data submitted through HTTP headers. The vulnerability specifically targets the stat.php script which processes statistical data collection activities, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise the affected web application. The flaw enables adversaries to inject arbitrary PHP code directly into the online.db.txt file, which subsequently gets executed when specific requests are made to the index.php endpoint.
The technical exploitation mechanism relies on the manipulation of the X-Forwarded-For HTTP header, a common practice in web application attacks where attackers leverage this header to bypass security controls or inject malicious payloads. This header is typically used by proxies and load balancers to identify the original IP address of clients connecting to a web server, but in this case, it becomes a vector for code injection. When the stat.php script processes the stat action through index.php, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the data contained within the X-Forwarded-For header before incorporating it into the online.db.txt file. This represents a classic case of insecure input handling that violates fundamental security principles and creates an attack surface for remote code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected web server running AuraCMS. Successful exploitation allows unauthorized individuals to execute arbitrary commands on the server, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the web application and its underlying data, as attackers can modify the online.db.txt file to include malicious code that executes whenever the application processes statistical requests. This type of vulnerability can result in persistent backdoors, data exfiltration, and complete system compromise, making it a high-priority security concern for any organization running affected versions of AuraCMS.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes the weakness of allowing arbitrary code execution through improper input validation, and relates to the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all HTTP headers, particularly the X-Forwarded-For field, and restrict file permissions for the online.db.txt file to prevent unauthorized modifications. Additionally, implementing proper access controls, regular security updates, and network monitoring to detect suspicious header values would significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The recommended approach involves patching the affected software to version 1.63 or later, which includes proper input validation mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to block suspicious header values. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components and establish robust security monitoring procedures to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts.