CVE-2018-17827 in HisiPHP
Summary
by MITRE
HisiPHP 1.0.8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code by editing a plugin's name to contain that code. This name is then injected into app/admin/model/AdminPlugins.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2020
This vulnerability resides in HisiPHP version 1.0.8, a content management system that suffers from a critical remote code execution flaw. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the plugin management functionality, specifically in how the system handles plugin names during the editing process. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious plugin names containing PHP code that gets subsequently executed when the system processes these names within the AdminPlugins.php file.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves improper handling of user-supplied data within the application's administrative interface. When administrators edit plugin names through the web interface, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into the application's code execution flow. This creates a classic injection vulnerability where attacker-controlled code becomes part of the application's runtime environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the administrative level, potentially allowing attackers to gain full control over the web application and underlying server infrastructure. The flaw is classified as a command injection vulnerability with characteristics similar to CWE-94, which deals with insufficient validation of code execution. The attack vector is straightforward yet highly effective, requiring only a user with administrative privileges or the ability to manipulate the plugin management interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for affected organizations. Successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web server, potentially leading to lateral movement within network environments, persistence mechanisms, and further exploitation of connected systems. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected web applications, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on HisiPHP for their content management needs. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through PHP, and represents a privilege escalation path that could be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected HisiPHP version to address the input validation issues in the plugin management functionality. Organizations should implement strict input sanitization and validation measures, ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes proper escaping and validation before being processed or stored. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities by restricting administrative access to only trusted users. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection mechanisms can provide additional layers of defense against similar injection attacks. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications, particularly focusing on user input handling and code injection prevention techniques. Organizations should also establish robust monitoring procedures to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, as this type of vulnerability often manifests through unusual system access patterns or unexpected code execution within web server environments.