CVE-2014-5297 in X2Engine
Summary
by MITRE
The actionSendErrorReport method in protected/controllers/SiteController.php in X2Engine 2.8 through 4.1.7 allows remote attackers to conduct PHP object injection and Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attacks via crafted serialized data in the report parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5297 resides within the actionSendErrorReport method of the SiteController.php file in X2Engine versions 2.8 through 4.1.7. This represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to exploit two distinct attack vectors simultaneously through a single input parameter. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to adequately process serialized data submitted through the report parameter, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the application's behavior at the code execution level.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves PHP object injection combined with server-side request forgery, creating a sophisticated attack surface that leverages the unserialize() function's inherent dangers. When crafted serialized data is passed to the report parameter, the application's SiteController processes this input without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious PHP objects that can be deserialized and executed within the application context. This flaw directly maps to CWE-502, which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data, and represents a prime example of how insecure deserialization can lead to remote code execution. The combination with SSRF capabilities amplifies the threat model significantly, as attackers can not only execute arbitrary code but also potentially access internal network resources that would otherwise be isolated from external network access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform reconnaissance and lateral movement within the target network environment. Successful exploitation allows attackers to send arbitrary HTTP requests from the server hosting X2Engine, potentially enabling them to access internal services, databases, or other systems that are not directly exposed to the internet. This capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol tunneling and T1016 for system network configuration discovery. The vulnerability affects organizations using X2Engine versions within the specified range, potentially compromising sensitive business data, user information, and system integrity, particularly in environments where the application has elevated privileges or network access to critical internal systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5297 should prioritize immediate patching of affected X2Engine versions to the latest releases that contain proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement strict input validation for all user-supplied data, particularly when dealing with serialized content, and avoid using unserialize() on untrusted data. The implementation of Content Security Policies and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by blocking suspicious serialized data patterns. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews focusing on deserialization practices and ensure that applications do not have unnecessary network access that could be exploited through SSRF vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify similar patterns in other application components that might present analogous security risks.