CVE-2009-2736 in OpenNews
Summary
by MITRE
Static code injection vulnerability in admin.php in sun-jester OpenNews 1.0 allows remote authenticated administrators to inject arbitrary PHP code into config.php via the "Overall Width" field in a setconfig action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2736 represents a critical static code injection flaw within the sun-jester OpenNews 1.0 content management system. This issue specifically targets the administrative interface where authenticated administrators can manipulate configuration settings through the admin.php script. The vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before it is written to the config.php file. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it leverages the administrative privileges of a legitimate user to inject malicious PHP code directly into the system's configuration file, which is then executed by the web server. This creates a persistent backdoor that can be exploited by attackers who gain administrative access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of the "Overall Width" field within the setconfig action of the admin.php script. When an authenticated administrator submits configuration changes through the web interface, the application fails to sanitize the input data before storing it in the config.php file. This allows attackers who have already compromised administrative credentials to inject arbitrary PHP code that gets executed whenever the configuration file is processed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes the weakness of executing arbitrary code or commands, and specifically relates to the improper neutralization of special elements used in code. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation that enables code injection attacks, where the application treats user input as executable code rather than data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code injection, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the compromised system. Once the malicious PHP code is written to the config.php file, it becomes part of the system's core configuration and executes with the privileges of the web server process. This creates a persistent backdoor that can be used for data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, or further exploitation of the network. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate system but also potentially compromises other systems that rely on the compromised news management platform. Attackers can leverage this persistent access to maintain long-term presence within the network, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that depend on the OpenNews platform for their content management needs. The impact is further amplified by the fact that the vulnerability requires only authenticated access, which is often easier to obtain through credential theft or social engineering attacks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data, particularly in administrative interfaces. The most effective remediation involves implementing proper escaping mechanisms when writing configuration data to files, ensuring that special characters are properly encoded to prevent interpretation as executable code. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict access controls and implement multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The remediation process should also include monitoring for unauthorized changes to configuration files and implementing proper logging of administrative activities. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059.006, which covers execution through PHP, demonstrating how code injection vulnerabilities can be exploited to achieve persistent access to systems through web-based attack vectors.