CVE-2011-3832 in Support Incident Tracker
Summary
by MITRE
Eval injection vulnerability in config.php in Support Incident Tracker (aka SiT!) 3.65 allows remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary PHP code via the application_name parameter in a save action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2018
The CVE-2011-3832 vulnerability represents a critical server-side code injection flaw discovered in the Support Incident Tracker (SiT!) version 3.65. This vulnerability specifically targets the config.php file and affects authenticated administrative users who can manipulate the application_name parameter during a save operation. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's configuration handling logic, creating an exploitable pathway for remote code execution. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-94 category of "Improper Control of Generation of Code" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 "Exploit Public-Facing Application" as it allows attackers to leverage authenticated access to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated administrator submits a specially crafted payload through the application_name parameter in the configuration save action. The application fails to properly sanitize or validate this input before incorporating it into the configuration file, allowing malicious code to be executed within the PHP runtime environment. This injection occurs in a context where PHP code execution is permitted, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it bypasses normal application security controls. The flaw exists because the application uses dynamic code evaluation or direct file writing operations without proper parameter sanitization, enabling attackers to inject PHP code that gets executed during subsequent application operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with remote code execution capabilities on the affected system. Once exploited, an attacker can execute arbitrary PHP code with the privileges of the web application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This allows for data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms, privilege escalation, and further network reconnaissance. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire application environment, as attackers can modify or delete configuration data, access sensitive information, and potentially use the compromised system as a launch point for attacks against other systems within the network. The impact is amplified by the fact that the vulnerability requires only authenticated access, which can be obtained through credential compromise or social engineering attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3832 should focus on immediate patching of the SiT! application to version 3.66 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied data, particularly parameters used in configuration management. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting administrative access to only authorized personnel and implementing multi-factor authentication. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual administrative activities and potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions while maintaining the application's functionality. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against similar injection attacks and establish incident response procedures to quickly address potential exploitation attempts.