CVE-2008-1405 in fuzzylime
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in code/display.php in fuzzylime (cms) 3.01 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the admindir parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1405 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the fuzzylime content management system version 3.01. This vulnerability resides within the code/display.php script and demonstrates a classic insecure direct object reference pattern that enables attackers to manipulate application behavior through crafted input parameters. The flaw specifically affects the admindir parameter which is used to determine administrative directory paths within the CMS framework. This vulnerability type falls under CWE-829 which categorizes insecure direct object references as a weakness that allows attackers to access unauthorized resources or execute malicious code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker supplies a malicious URL as the value for the admindir parameter in the display.php script. The CMS fails to properly validate or sanitize this input, allowing the application to treat the supplied URL as a legitimate file path for inclusion. When the PHP interpreter processes this parameter, it attempts to include and execute the remote file specified by the attacker, thereby providing a direct execution channel for arbitrary PHP code. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability since it allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute code with the privileges of the web server process. The vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the use of remote file inclusion to execute malicious code on target systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected web server and potentially the underlying infrastructure. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, modify website content, or use the compromised server as a launching point for further attacks against internal networks. The vulnerability affects the entire fuzzylime CMS ecosystem and could potentially impact multiple websites running this version, especially since it involves a core file inclusion mechanism. Organizations running affected systems face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential compromise of their entire web infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-provided patch or upgrading to a non-vulnerable version of the fuzzylime CMS. Additionally, implementing input validation and sanitization measures can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other parts of the application. Security configurations should include disabling remote file inclusion features and implementing proper parameter validation for all user-supplied inputs. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls to detect and block exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in web application development. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues in other applications and prevent exploitation of similar patterns in the broader attack surface.