CVE-2017-15990 in Php Inventory
Summary
by MITRE
Php Inventory & Invoice Management System allows Arbitrary File Upload via dashboard/edit_myaccountdetail/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2025
The Php Inventory & Invoice Management System vulnerability CVE-2017-15990 represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary file uploads through the dashboard/edit_myaccountdetail/ endpoint. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-434, which specifically addresses "Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type." The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly validate file types and upload restrictions, allowing malicious actors to bypass security controls and upload potentially harmful files to the server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the web application's file upload functionality. When users navigate to the dashboard/edit_myaccountdetail/ path, the system does not adequately verify the file extensions, MIME types, or content of uploaded files. This weakness creates an opportunity for attackers to upload malicious files such as web shells, scripts, or other harmful content that can be executed on the target server. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within what appears to be a legitimate user account management interface, making it harder to detect and exploit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file uploads, creating significant risks for organizations using this inventory management system. Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to the server, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability enables threat actors to deploy web shells that provide remote code execution capabilities, allowing them to maintain control over the compromised system. Additionally, the presence of such a vulnerability can facilitate lateral movement within network environments, as attackers may use the compromised system as a foothold to access other connected systems. This type of vulnerability is categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as part of the T1190 technique, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in remote services to gain unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15990 require immediate implementation of multiple security controls to prevent exploitation. Organizations should implement strict file type validation by maintaining allowlists of approved file extensions and MIME types rather than relying on denylists. The system must enforce proper access controls and authentication checks to ensure only authorized users can access the file upload functionality. Input sanitization should be implemented to strip or encode potentially dangerous characters from filenames, preventing path traversal attacks. Additionally, uploaded files should be stored in non-executable directories with proper file permissions to prevent accidental execution. Security headers should be configured to prevent automatic execution of uploaded content, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process should include updating the application to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched, as well as implementing network segmentation to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.