CVE-2008-6223 in Way Of The Warrior
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in visualizza.php in Way Of The Warrior (WOTW) 5.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the plancia parameter to crea.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6223 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the Way Of The Warrior content management system version 5.0 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the visualizza.php component and specifically affects the crea.php script which processes the plancia parameter. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict user-supplied data before incorporating it into the application's execution flow. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs and passing them through the plancia parameter, which then gets processed by the vulnerable visualizza.php script and subsequently executed by the PHP interpreter.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-88, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command, and more specifically maps to CWE-94, which addresses the execution of arbitrary code due to improper input validation. The flaw constitutes a classic remote code execution vulnerability that allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary PHP code on the target server. The attack vector involves a remote attacker who can manipulate the plancia parameter to include malicious URLs pointing to attacker-controlled remote resources. When the application processes this parameter, it effectively includes and executes the remote PHP code, providing the attacker with full control over the compromised server. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited without authentication and can lead to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass full system compromise and potential data breaches. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains the ability to execute arbitrary commands on the web server, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of web content, establishment of backdoors, and further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system, as it allows attackers to modify application behavior, delete files, or install malicious software. The lack of proper input validation creates a persistent risk that remains exploitable until the underlying code is patched or the vulnerable components are removed from the application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6223 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Way Of The Warrior application to version 5.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization techniques, including the use of allowlists for parameter values and strict validation of URL formats. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting file inclusion operations to local files only and implementing proper access controls. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block malicious requests attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and systems. The remediation process should also include disabling the problematic file inclusion functionality entirely if it is not essential for application operation, as recommended by the ATT&CK framework's approach to mitigating remote code execution vulnerabilities through input validation and privilege reduction techniques.