CVE-2015-1604 in Adminsystems
Summary
by MITRE
Unrestricted file upload vulnerability in asys/site/files.php in Adminsystems CMS before 4.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code by uploading a file with an executable extension, then accessing it via a direct request to the file in upload/files/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2022
The CVE-2015-1604 vulnerability represents a critical unrestricted file upload flaw within the Adminsystems CMS version 4.0.1 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the file handling mechanism located at asys/site/files.php, where the system fails to properly validate file extensions and content before storing uploaded files. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to bypass security restrictions and upload malicious files with executable extensions such as .php, .asp, or .jsp directly to the server's file system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a straightforward yet dangerous process where an authenticated user can upload a malicious file containing arbitrary code. Once uploaded, the attacker can access this file directly through a web request to the upload/files/ directory, enabling remote code execution on the target server. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-434, which describes the improper restriction of uploads of executable code, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation combined with inadequate file type checking mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1604 is severe and far-reaching for affected organizations. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain full control over the compromised server, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability can be leveraged to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or use the compromised server as a launch point for attacking other systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability corresponds to T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques, making it particularly dangerous for attackers seeking to maintain long-term access to target environments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Adminsystems CMS version 4.0.2 or later, which contains proper file validation mechanisms. Additional protective measures include implementing strict file extension filtering, disabling execution permissions on upload directories, and conducting thorough security audits of file upload functionalities. Network segmentation and monitoring of file upload activities can also help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, as highlighted by industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.