CVE-2010-1864 in PHP
Summary
by MITRE
The addcslashes function in PHP 5.2 through 5.2.13 and 5.3 through 5.3.2 allows context-dependent attackers to obtain sensitive information (memory contents) by causing a userspace interruption of an internal function, related to the call time pass by reference feature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1864 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the PHP scripting language that affects versions 5.2 through 5.2.13 and 5.3 through 5.3.2. This issue stems from the improper handling of memory structures within the addcslashes function, which is commonly used for escaping characters in strings. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the function encounters certain conditions that trigger a userspace interruption of an internal function execution, creating a scenario where memory contents become accessible to unauthorized parties. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure as defined by CWE-200, where sensitive data that should remain protected becomes exposed due to improper memory management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the call time pass by reference feature that was present in older PHP versions, creating a context-dependent attack vector that requires specific conditions to be met. When attackers can manipulate the execution flow to interrupt internal function calls, they can potentially read memory addresses or data segments that contain sensitive information. The flaw occurs because PHP's internal memory management does not properly sanitize or validate the memory access patterns during these specific interruption scenarios. This vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of improper handling of memory access during function execution, which aligns with CWE-125, indicating an out-of-bounds read condition that can be leveraged for information disclosure.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-1864 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the memory contents that become accessible may include sensitive data such as session identifiers, database connection details, or other confidential information stored in memory. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain insights into the application's memory structure, which could aid in developing more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability affects web applications that rely heavily on PHP's string manipulation functions and could be particularly dangerous in environments where applications handle sensitive user data or system information. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005, which covers data from local system, and T1009, which involves data from network repositories, as the memory contents could contain information that would normally be protected from unauthorized access.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to PHP versions 5.2.14 or 5.3.3, which contain patches for this specific issue. The recommended approach involves thorough testing of application compatibility after upgrading, as the fix may impact existing code that relies on the problematic behavior. Additionally, administrators should review their PHP configuration settings to ensure that the call time pass by reference feature is disabled, as this reduces the attack surface for exploitation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual memory access patterns or potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management practices in language implementations and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation details can create significant security risks. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of information disclosure vulnerabilities, as outlined in defensive security practices recommended by various cybersecurity frameworks including NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards.