CVE-2012-10056 in PHP Volunteer Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2025
PHP Volunteer Management System v1.0.2 contains an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in its document upload functionality. Authenticated users can upload files to the mods/documents/uploads/ directory without any restriction on file type or extension. Because this directory is publicly accessible and lacks execution controls, attackers can upload a malicious PHP payload and execute it remotely. The application ships with default credentials, making exploitation trivial. Once authenticated, the attacker can upload a PHP shell and trigger it via a direct GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2025
The CVE-2012-10056 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the PHP Volunteer Management System version 1.0.2 that stems from inadequate input validation and access controls within its document upload functionality. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure file upload flaws, which are commonly classified as CWE-434 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The system's design permits authenticated users to upload files directly to the mods/documents/uploads/ directory without any restrictions on file type or extension validation, creating a fundamental security gap that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows for arbitrary file uploads through a straightforward exploitation path that leverages the application's default authentication credentials. Attackers can authenticate using the default username and password combination, which is a common configuration flaw that significantly reduces the attack surface complexity. Once authenticated, the malicious user can bypass all file type restrictions and upload PHP payload files directly to the publicly accessible upload directory. The vulnerability's impact is exacerbated by the fact that the upload directory lacks proper execution controls, meaning that uploaded PHP files can be executed directly by the web server without proper sanitization or validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file uploads, as it enables full remote code execution capabilities for attackers who can successfully authenticate to the system. The attack chain involves uploading a PHP shell or malicious script to the publicly accessible directory and then triggering execution through a direct GET request to the uploaded file's URL. This remote code execution capability allows attackers to gain complete control over the affected system, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and further lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability aligns with several MITRE ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, demonstrating how this flaw can be weaponized for persistent access and system compromise.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of multiple security controls to prevent unauthorized file uploads. Organizations should implement strict file type validation that checks both file extensions and MIME types against a whitelist of approved formats, while also ensuring that uploaded files are stored outside the web root directory to prevent direct execution. Additionally, proper access controls must be enforced to restrict file upload functionality to authorized users only, and all default credentials should be changed immediately upon system deployment. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices, specifically those outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, which emphasize the need for proper input validation, secure file handling, and authentication controls. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications, as this flaw represents a common pattern of insecure file upload implementations that can be exploited across various web applications.