CVE-2013-0303 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in core/ajax/translations.php in ownCloud before 4.0.12 and 4.5.x before 4.5.6 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary PHP code via unknown vectors. NOTE: this entry has been SPLIT due to different affected versions. The core/settings.php issue is covered by CVE-2013-7344.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0303 represents a critical security flaw within the ownCloud file sharing platform that affected multiple version ranges prior to specific patch releases. This issue resides in the core/ajax/translations.php component of the application, which serves as a critical interface for handling translation-related AJAX requests within the platform's web-based user interface. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions before 4.0.12 and 4.5.x versions before 4.5.6, creating a window of exposure for organizations utilizing these vulnerable iterations. The flaw's classification as unspecified indicates that the precise technical mechanism enabling the exploitation was not fully detailed in the initial vulnerability report, though subsequent analysis revealed the underlying security weakness.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the AJAX translation handler. When authenticated users submit requests through the translations.php endpoint, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the parameters passed to the underlying PHP execution engine. This creates a path for maliciously crafted input to be interpreted as executable PHP code rather than standard data, effectively allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code on the server hosting the ownCloud instance. The vulnerability operates at the application level within the web server environment, bypassing traditional network-based security controls and exploiting the trust relationship between authenticated users and the application's backend processing capabilities.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on ownCloud for file storage and collaboration services. The requirement for remote authentication means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials to exploit this flaw, though this represents a substantial reduction in attack complexity compared to unauthenticated exploits. Once successfully exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate code execution to include potential privilege escalation, data corruption, and persistent backdoor establishment, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where ownCloud serves as a critical collaboration platform.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including deployment of the patched versions 4.0.12 and 4.5.6, which address the input validation gaps in the translation handler. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based controls such as web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious AJAX requests to the affected endpoint. Additional protective measures include restricting access to the translations.php endpoint through authentication controls, implementing least privilege principles for user accounts, and conducting comprehensive security audits of the ownCloud installation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python" and similar code injection patterns. The incident underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust input validation controls in web applications to prevent unauthorized code execution.