CVE-2014-8626 in PHP
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the date_from_ISO8601 function in ext/xmlrpc/libxmlrpc/xmlrpc.c in PHP before 5.2.7 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code by including a timezone field in a date, leading to improper XML-RPC encoding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8626 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within PHP's XML-RPC implementation, specifically affecting versions prior to 5.2.7. This flaw resides in the date_from_ISO8601 function located in ext/xmlrpc/libxmlrpc/xmlrpc.c, where improper handling of timezone fields during XML-RPC date parsing creates exploitable conditions that can lead to system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations.
The technical exploitation occurs when PHP processes XML-RPC requests containing date values with timezone specifications, particularly those following ISO 8601 standards. The date_from_ISO8601 function fails to properly validate the length of timezone data before copying it into fixed-size stack buffers, creating opportunities for attackers to overflow these buffers and potentially overwrite return addresses or other critical stack variables. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables remote code execution through malformed XML-RPC requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to include potential remote code execution capabilities, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process untrusted XML-RPC data. Attackers can leverage this flaw to crash applications, potentially leading to service disruption, or in more severe cases, execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected PHP process. The vulnerability affects systems where PHP handles XML-RPC communications, including web services, API endpoints, and applications that rely on XML-RPC for data exchange protocols. Organizations running vulnerable PHP versions are at risk of unauthorized access, data compromise, and system control loss.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-8626 require immediate patching of PHP installations to versions 5.2.7 or later, where the buffer overflow has been addressed through proper bounds checking and input validation. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to XML-RPC endpoints, while monitoring for suspicious XML-RPC traffic patterns. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed XML-RPC requests can provide early warning of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software libraries and implementing robust input validation mechanisms, particularly for functions handling external data parsing and conversion operations. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable PHP versions and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly.