CVE-2008-1860 in LokiCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Static code injection vulnerability in admin.php in LokiCMS 0.3.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary PHP code into includes/Config.php via the default parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1860 represents a critical static code injection flaw within LokiCMS version 0.3.3 and earlier systems. This weakness resides in the admin.php file where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input passed through the default parameter. The vulnerability occurs during the processing of administrative requests where the application directly incorporates user-supplied data into the configuration file includes/Config.php without adequate sanitization measures. This allows an attacker to inject malicious PHP code that gets executed within the context of the web server, potentially compromising the entire CMS infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a pattern consistent with CWE-94, which describes the improper execution of code due to insufficient input validation. The flaw operates at the intersection of code injection and privilege escalation, as the attacker can manipulate the default parameter to inject PHP code that gets written to the Config.php file. This creates a persistent backdoor within the application's configuration layer, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the server with the privileges of the web application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote code execution without requiring authentication, as the injection occurs during administrative operations that may be accessible to unauthenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code injection, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected CMS installation. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and potentially use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly attractive for automated exploitation campaigns. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PHP) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can use the injected code to maintain persistence and potentially escalate privileges. The compromise of the Config.php file also undermines the integrity of the entire application, as it allows attackers to modify core configuration settings and potentially disable security mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1860 require immediate action to address the root cause of the vulnerability. The most effective solution involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all parameters passed to administrative functions, particularly those that influence file operations. The application should employ strict parameter validation to ensure that only expected values are accepted for the default parameter, and any user-supplied input must be properly escaped or encoded before being written to configuration files. Additionally, the system should implement proper access controls to limit who can access administrative functions, and file permissions should be configured to prevent unauthorized modification of critical configuration files. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, and the CMS should be updated to a version that addresses this specific flaw. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and prevent unauthorized access to administrative interfaces.