CVE-2011-4082 in phpLDAPadmin
Summary
by MITRE
A local file inclusion flaw was found in the way the phpLDAPadmin before 0.9.8 processed certain values of the "Accept-Language" HTTP header. A remote attacker could use this flaw to cause a denial of service via specially-crafted request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4082 represents a local file inclusion flaw within phpLDAPadmin version 0.9.7 and earlier, demonstrating a critical security weakness in web application input validation and processing. This flaw specifically manifests in the application's handling of the "Accept-Language" HTTP header, which is typically used by web browsers to communicate preferred language settings to web servers. The vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted HTTP headers. The flaw is classified as a local file inclusion vulnerability under CWE-98, which falls under the broader category of improper input validation issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when phpLDAPadmin processes the Accept-Language header without proper validation or sanitization of its contents. Attackers can craft malicious HTTP requests containing specially formatted values in the Accept-Language header that cause the application to include local files from the server filesystem. This occurs because the application fails to properly validate or escape the input before using it in file inclusion operations, creating a path traversal scenario where attacker-controlled data is interpreted as a file path. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and does not require authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by remote attackers without prior access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a potential gateway for more severe attacks within the application environment. While the initial description indicates a denial of service condition, the underlying flaw suggests that an attacker could potentially read arbitrary files from the server filesystem, including configuration files, database credentials, or application source code. This could lead to information disclosure, privilege escalation, or even complete system compromise depending on the server configuration and file permissions. The vulnerability affects the availability and integrity of the phpLDAPadmin application, which is commonly used for managing ldap directory services, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on directory services for authentication and authorization.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4082 should focus on immediate patching of the affected phpLDAPadmin versions to 0.9.8 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for input validation. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious Accept-Language headers, though this represents a secondary defense mechanism. Input validation should be strengthened at the application level by implementing proper sanitization of all HTTP headers, particularly those that may influence file operations or include statements. The fix typically involves implementing strict validation patterns that reject non-standard language codes or escape special characters in the Accept-Language header before processing. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual Accept-Language header patterns and anomalous file access attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1068 for local privilege escalation through application weaknesses, emphasizing the need for comprehensive application security testing and input validation.