CVE-2008-2990 in FacileForms
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in facileforms.frame.php in the FacileForms (com_facileforms) component 1.4.4 for Mambo and Joomla! allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the ff_compath parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2024
The CVE-2008-2990 vulnerability represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the FacileForms component for Mambo and Joomla! platforms, specifically affecting version 1.4.4. This vulnerability resides within the facileforms.frame.php script and demonstrates a classic insecure direct object reference issue that enables attackers to manipulate application behavior through malicious input. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input passed through the ff_compath parameter, creating an opportunity for remote code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the trust placed in user input by the application's processing logic. When the ff_compath parameter is passed to the facileforms.frame.php script, the application directly incorporates this value into file inclusion operations without adequate validation. This allows an attacker to supply a malicious URL that points to a remote server hosting malicious PHP code, which gets executed within the context of the web application. The vulnerability falls under CWE-98, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in PHP code, and more broadly relates to CWE-22, representing improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to affected web applications as it enables full remote code execution capabilities. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on the target server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms. The impact extends beyond immediate code execution to include potential privilege escalation, lateral movement within network environments, and establishment of backdoors for continued access. The vulnerability affects both Mambo and Joomla! platforms, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread adoption of these content management systems.
The attack vector for CVE-2008-2990 aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the use of remote services for initial access and execution. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader exploitation chain that may include reconnaissance, initial compromise, and post-exploitation activities. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious file inclusion patterns and establish proper input validation controls to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the affected FacileForms component to version 1.4.5 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Additionally, administrators should implement input validation controls that sanitize all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file inclusion operations. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by blocking malicious requests containing suspicious URL patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper parameter validation and the principle of least privilege in application design, ensuring that file inclusion operations only accept trusted, validated inputs. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components and maintain up-to-date vulnerability management processes to prevent exploitation of known flaws.