CVE-2014-8677 in Soplanning
Summary
by MITRE
The installation process for SOPlanning 1.32 and earlier allows remote authenticated users with a prepared database, and access to an existing database with a crafted name, or permissions to create arbitrary databases, or if PHP before 5.2 is being used, the configuration database is down, and smarty/templates_c is not writable to execute arbitrary php code via a crafted database name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8677 represents a critical code execution flaw within the SOPlanning 1.32 and earlier versions during their installation process. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle database names provided by authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically targets the installation phase where the application creates or connects to databases, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited during the initial setup or configuration of the software.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a combination of factors that create a path for arbitrary code execution. When an authenticated user provides a crafted database name, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize this input before using it in database operations. This flaw becomes particularly severe when combined with specific environmental conditions such as PHP versions prior to 5.2, database connection failures, or insufficient permissions for the smarty/templates_c directory. The vulnerability leverages the application's trust in user-provided database names without adequate security checks, creating a direct pathway for malicious code injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise. An attacker with authenticated access can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary PHP code on the server, potentially gaining full control over the hosting environment. This capability allows for data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, privilege escalation, and the deployment of additional malicious payloads. The vulnerability affects not just the targeted application but can potentially provide attackers with a foothold for broader network infiltration, particularly when the application runs with elevated privileges or has access to sensitive data repositories.
The underlying security weakness aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-94, representing improper control of generation of code. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, covering the execution of code through PHP, and T1068, involving the exploitation of remote services for privilege escalation. The flaw exists in the software's installation logic where user inputs are not properly sanitized before being used in database operations, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by authenticated users who understand the application's internal workings.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including upgrading to SOPlanning versions beyond 1.32 where the installation process has been properly secured. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures that sanitize all user-provided database names, ensuring that special characters and potentially malicious sequences are properly escaped or rejected. The installation process should be configured to run with minimal necessary privileges and ensure that the smarty/templates_c directory has appropriate write permissions only when required. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the scope of potential exploitation, while regular security audits should verify that all input validation mechanisms are functioning correctly and that no similar vulnerabilities exist in other parts of the application's codebase.