CVE-2011-4825 in Ajax File
Summary
by MITRE
Static code injection vulnerability in inc/function.base.php in Ajax File and Image Manager before 1.1, as used in tinymce before 1.4.2, phpMyFAQ 2.6 before 2.6.19 and 2.7 before 2.7.1, and possibly other products, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary PHP code into data.php via crafted parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2025
The CVE-2011-4825 vulnerability represents a critical static code injection flaw that existed in multiple web applications and content management systems. This vulnerability specifically affected the Ajax File and Image Manager component, which was integrated into various platforms including TinyMCE before version 1.4.2, phpMyFAQ versions prior to 2.6.19 and 2.7.1, and potentially other products utilizing this file manager functionality. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the inc/function.base.php file, which is responsible for handling file and image management operations through the Ajax interface.
The technical flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into dynamic code execution contexts. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious parameters that are then processed by the data.php script, which serves as the backend handler for file management operations. This injection occurs at runtime when the application attempts to execute code that includes attacker-controlled data, effectively allowing remote code execution capabilities. The vulnerability is classified as a static code injection because the malicious code is injected into the application's execution flow rather than being executed through dynamic code generation or interpretation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary PHP code on affected systems. This means that an attacker could potentially gain complete control over the web server hosting the vulnerable applications, allowing them to access sensitive data, modify content, install backdoors, or launch further attacks against the internal network. The vulnerability affects not only the specific applications mentioned but also any other products that incorporate the vulnerable Ajax File and Image Manager component, making it a widespread concern across multiple software ecosystems. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be exploited through simple web requests, making it highly accessible to attackers.
Security mitigations for CVE-2011-4825 should focus on immediate patching of affected software versions to the latest secure releases. Organizations must also implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent user-supplied data from being executed as code. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, restricting file upload capabilities, and conducting regular security audits of third-party components. The remediation process should also involve thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that the vulnerability has been fully addressed without introducing new issues. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege for web server accounts and monitoring for suspicious file operations that may indicate exploitation attempts.