CVE-2013-7344 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in core/settings.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 issue was SPLIT from CVE-2013-0303 due to different affected versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7344 represents a critical security flaw in the ownCloud file sharing platform that affected versions prior to 4.0.12 and 4.5.x versions before 4.5.6. This issue resides within the core/settings.php file, which serves as a fundamental component in the platform's configuration and management functionality. The vulnerability classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism was not immediately disclosed in the initial CVE description, but subsequent analysis revealed its severity and attack surface.
The technical flaw manifests as a remote code execution vulnerability that can be exploited by authenticated users who have access to the ownCloud system. This represents a significant privilege escalation risk since attackers need only valid credentials to potentially gain arbitrary code execution capabilities. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the settings.php file, which likely processes user-supplied parameters without adequate security controls. This allows maliciously crafted input to be interpreted and executed as PHP code by the web server, bypassing normal security boundaries and potentially enabling full system compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations relying on ownCloud for file storage and collaboration. The remote execution capability means that attackers could potentially install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, modify system configurations, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The authenticated nature of the attack reduces the barrier to exploitation compared to fully remote vulnerabilities, as attackers only need to obtain legitimate user credentials rather than performing complex initial access attempts. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where user access controls may be insufficient or where credential compromise occurs through phishing or other means.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and relates to the broader category of code execution vulnerabilities. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and script injection, and T1078 for valid accounts as it leverages legitimate user credentials to perform malicious activities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to the patched versions 4.0.12 and 4.5.6, reviewing user access controls, implementing network segmentation, and monitoring for suspicious activities in the settings and configuration management components. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their ownCloud installations and ensure that all authentication mechanisms are properly configured with appropriate access controls and monitoring capabilities.