CVE-2010-1598 in phpThumb
Summary
by MITRE
phpThumb.php in phpThumb() 1.7.9 and possibly other versions, when ImageMagick is installed, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via the fltr[] parameter, as discovered in the wild in April 2010. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1598 represents a critical command injection flaw in phpThumb version 1.7.9 and potentially other iterations, specifically when the ImageMagick image processing library is present on the target system. This vulnerability resides within the phpThumb.php script which serves as a thumbnail generation utility for web applications. The flaw manifests through the improper handling of user-supplied input in the fltr[] parameter, which is designed to process image filters. When ImageMagick is installed, the application fails to adequately sanitize or validate the filter parameter input, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to inject and execute arbitrary system commands with the privileges of the web server process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the interaction between phpThumb's filter processing mechanism and ImageMagick's command execution capabilities. When attackers submit malicious input through the fltr[] parameter, the phpThumb application passes this unvalidated data directly to ImageMagick's processing functions without proper input sanitization. This creates a command injection vector where attacker-controlled commands can be interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the system level rather than just within the web application context, potentially allowing attackers to gain full system access, escalate privileges, or compromise other services running on the same server. The flaw aligns with CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into system commands without proper validation or sanitization.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-1598 extends far beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with complete system control over affected web servers. Remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands such as downloading additional malware, creating backdoors, modifying system files, or accessing sensitive data stored on the server. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that utilize phpThumb for image processing and thumbnail generation, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns. The risk is amplified by the fact that the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it highly attractive to attackers. Organizations running vulnerable versions of phpThumb face potential data breaches, system compromise, and complete loss of control over affected servers, with implications for data integrity, confidentiality, and availability that align with the principles outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the command and control tactics.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1598 focus on immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary and most effective mitigation is upgrading to a patched version of phpThumb that properly validates and sanitizes the fltr[] parameter input. Organizations should also implement input validation at multiple layers, including web application firewalls and server-side filtering mechanisms that can detect and block suspicious command injection patterns. Network segmentation and privilege separation can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation by ensuring that web server processes run with minimal required permissions. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary image processing features, implementing proper access controls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating all user inputs and following secure coding practices as outlined in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.