CVE-2010-4724 in Smarty
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in the parser implementation in Smarty before 3.0.0 RC3 have unknown impact and remote attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4724 affects the Smarty template engine, a widely used PHP template parsing library that has been integral to numerous web applications and content management systems. This vulnerability resides within the parser implementation of Smarty versions prior to 3.0.0 RC3, representing a critical security flaw that could potentially allow remote attackers to exploit unspecified weaknesses within the template processing functionality. The affected versions of Smarty have been extensively deployed across web environments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective. The parser implementation serves as the core component responsible for interpreting template syntax and converting it into executable PHP code, creating a potential attack surface that could be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from unspecified flaws within the parser's handling of template input, which could potentially allow for code injection or execution attacks. While the exact technical details remain unspecified in the CVE description, parser-based vulnerabilities typically involve improper input validation, buffer overflows, or improper sanitization of template variables. These types of issues can enable attackers to manipulate template parsing logic to execute arbitrary code or bypass security controls. The parser implementation in Smarty is designed to process template files containing variables, loops, conditionals, and other template constructs, and any weakness in this processing chain could provide an entry point for attackers. The vulnerability's classification as having "unknown impact" suggests that the specific consequences could range from information disclosure to full system compromise depending on how the parser flaws are exploited.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly across various web applications that rely on Smarty for their templating needs, including but not limited to content management systems, web frameworks, and custom web applications. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, leading to complete compromise of web servers and potential access to sensitive data stored within the applications. The remote attack vectors indicate that exploitation could occur without requiring local system access, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited by attackers from anywhere on the internet. Organizations using affected Smarty versions face substantial risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations if the vulnerability is successfully exploited. The widespread adoption of Smarty across different platforms means that a single vulnerability could impact numerous organizations simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate version updates to Smarty 3.0.0 RC3 or later, which would contain the patched parser implementation. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected Smarty versions and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures can provide defense-in-depth protection against potential exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect any suspicious template processing activities or unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE categories related to parser vulnerabilities and input validation issues, and may be mapped to ATT&CK techniques involving code injection and remote command execution. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be reinforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in the future. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and other protective measures to monitor and filter potentially malicious template inputs.