CVE-2008-6403 in OpenRat
Summary
by MITRE
PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in themes/default/include/html/insert.inc.php in OpenRat 0.8-beta4 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the tpl_dir parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6403 represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw within the OpenRat content management system version 0.8-beta4 and earlier. This issue resides in the themes/default/include/html/insert.inc.php file where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input. The vulnerability specifically affects the tpl_dir parameter which is used to specify template directories within the application's theme system. When an attacker provides a malicious URL as the value for this parameter, the application blindly includes and executes the remote code, creating a severe security risk that can be exploited from anywhere on the internet.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-88, which describes improper neutralization of argument delimiters in a command or query, and more specifically with CWE-94, which covers the execution of arbitrary code or commands. This flaw demonstrates a classic case of insecure direct object reference combined with remote file inclusion, where the application directly incorporates user input into file inclusion operations without proper validation. The vulnerability exists because the application does not perform adequate input sanitization or validation before using the tpl_dir parameter to construct file paths, allowing attackers to inject malicious URLs that get executed as PHP code on the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides attackers with complete remote code execution capabilities on the affected server. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to upload and execute malicious scripts, potentially gaining full control over the web server hosting OpenRat. This allows for data exfiltration, system compromise, and the establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 0.8-beta4, meaning that any organization running these older versions is at risk of exploitation. The remote nature of the attack means that no local access is required, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without needing physical access to the network.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. The primary and most effective solution is to upgrade to a patched version of OpenRat that addresses this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent unauthorized file inclusion operations. The application should be configured to use a whitelist approach for template directories, ensuring that only pre-approved paths can be used. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and network segmentation can help limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for remote code execution and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, making it a critical target for defensive measures and incident response protocols.