CVE-2014-2294 in Open Web Analytics
Summary
by MITRE
Open Web Analytics (OWA) before 1.5.7 allows remote attackers to conduct PHP object injection attacks via a crafted serialized object in the owa_event parameter to queue.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2024
Open Web Analytics version 1.5.7 and earlier contains a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code through a PHP object injection flaw. This vulnerability exists in the queue.php script where the owa_event parameter is processed without proper sanitization or validation of serialized object data. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious serialized objects that can be unserialized by the application, leading to arbitrary code execution on the server.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which describes the improper handling of serialized data in programming languages. When the owa_event parameter is passed to queue.php, the application deserializes the input without adequate security controls, creating an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the object graph during the unserialization process. This allows for the execution of malicious code with the privileges of the web server, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with a direct path to execute arbitrary code on the target system. An attacker can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access, install backdoors, steal sensitive data, or use the compromised server for further attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be exploited through a simple HTTP request containing a crafted serialized object. This makes it highly attractive to automated attack tools and increases the potential for widespread exploitation across vulnerable installations.
Organizations using Open Web Analytics should immediately upgrade to version 1.5.7 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization of serialized objects. Additional mitigations include implementing proper parameter validation, using secure deserialization practices, and applying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious serialized object patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for PHP deserialization attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual outbound connections that might indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability.