CVE-2010-1055 in osDate
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in osDate 2.1.9 and 2.5.4, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled and register_globals is enabled, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the config[forum_installed] parameter to (1) forum/adminLogin.php and (2) forum/userLogin.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2010-1055 represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting osDate versions 2.1.9 and 2.5.4. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the application's forum authentication modules, specifically in the adminLogin.php and userLogin.php scripts. The flaw manifests when the PHP configuration settings magic_quotes_gpc are disabled and register_globals are enabled, creating a dangerous combination that allows attackers to inject malicious code through crafted URL parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the config[forum_installed] parameter which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation. When register_globals is enabled, PHP automatically creates global variables from request data, including GET and POST parameters. This behavior, combined with the absence of magic_quotes_gpc protection, allows attackers to inject PHP code directly into the application's execution flow. The vulnerability is classified as a remote file inclusion (RFI) issue under CWE-98, which specifically addresses the improper handling of external file inclusion requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with complete remote code execution capabilities on the affected system. Successful exploitation enables unauthorized users to execute arbitrary PHP code, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or service disruption. The vulnerability affects web applications that have insecure PHP configurations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators have not properly secured their server settings. Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive information, or use the compromised server for further attacks against other systems.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate remediation actions including disabling register_globals and enabling magic_quotes_gpc in PHP configurations, though the latter is deprecated in modern PHP versions. The most effective solution involves updating to patched versions of osDate, implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, and configuring web applications to disable dangerous PHP settings. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious URL patterns, and conduct regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications and T1059 for executing commands through PHP code injection, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures across multiple attack vectors.