CVE-2008-1866 in Blog
Summary
by MITRE
admin/modif_config.php in Blog Pixel Motion (aka PixelMotion) does not require admin authentication, which allows remote authenticated users to upload arbitrary PHP scripts in a ZIP archive, which is written to templateZip/ and then automatically extracted under templates/ for execution via a direct request.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1866 affects Blog Pixel Motion, also known as PixelMotion, a content management system that suffered from a critical authentication bypass flaw in its administrative configuration modification component. This issue resides within the admin/modif_config.php script which fails to properly validate user authentication credentials before permitting access to sensitive administrative functions. The flaw represents a serious security weakness that undermines the fundamental principle of access control within web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authentication checks in the administrative modification interface. When authenticated users access the modif_config.php endpoint, the application does not verify whether the requesting user possesses administrative privileges. This authentication gap allows malicious users to exploit the system's file upload functionality without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically enables the upload of PHP scripts packaged within ZIP archives, which are then automatically extracted and executed within the web server's document root under the templates/ directory structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the affected server, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The automatic extraction of ZIP archives into the templates/ directory creates a persistent backdoor mechanism that can remain undetected for extended periods. This vulnerability directly enables code execution attacks that align with attack techniques categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PHP) and T1505.003 (Server Software Component: Web Shell). The compromised system becomes vulnerable to further exploitation including data exfiltration, lateral movement, and establishment of persistent access points.
The vulnerability manifests through a specific attack vector that combines weak authentication with insecure file handling practices. When an authenticated user uploads a ZIP archive containing malicious PHP code, the system processes the upload without proper verification of administrative privileges. The automatic extraction process places the malicious files in the templates/ directory where they can be executed via direct HTTP requests to the web server. This behavior constitutes a classic insecure file upload vulnerability that violates security principles outlined in CWE-434, which addresses the improper restriction of file uploads. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics of CWE-287, which deals with improper authentication mechanisms, and CWE-22, which covers improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the authentication bypass and the insecure file handling components. Organizations should implement proper authentication verification before allowing access to administrative functions, ensuring that only authorized administrators can modify system configurations. The file upload functionality should be restricted to authenticated administrative users with proper privilege validation. Additionally, all uploaded files should undergo strict validation and sanitization processes, including content type verification, file extension filtering, and execution permission restrictions. The system should implement proper input validation and output encoding to prevent malicious file execution. Security configurations should include limiting write permissions to critical directories and implementing proper logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized file upload activities. These measures align with defensive techniques recommended in the ATT&CK framework for preventing command execution and privilege escalation attacks. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in other components of the system.