CVE-2022-41539 in Wedding Planner
Summary
by MITRE • 10/14/2022
Wedding Planner v1.0 was discovered to contain an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the component /admin/users_add.php. This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PHP file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41539 represents a critical security flaw in the Wedding Planner v1.0 web application that directly impacts the system's integrity and confidentiality. This issue resides within the administrative component of the application at the path /admin/users_add.php, which serves as a user management interface for administrators. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and file upload restrictions that fail to properly sanitize or verify the file types being uploaded to the server. Attackers can exploit this weakness by uploading malicious PHP files that contain executable code, thereby gaining unauthorized access to the underlying system and potentially compromising the entire web infrastructure. This arbitrary file upload vulnerability falls under the CWE-434 category, specifically CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability due to its potential for remote code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established attack pattern that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1505.003: Server-side Template Injection, where attackers leverage file upload capabilities to introduce malicious code into the target system. When an attacker successfully uploads a PHP shell or malicious script through the vulnerable /admin/users_add.php endpoint, they can execute arbitrary commands on the server with the privileges of the web application user. This creates a persistent backdoor that allows for further lateral movement within the network, data exfiltration, and potential escalation of privileges. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in input validation and file type checking, as the application fails to implement proper file extension validation, MIME type verification, or content-based file analysis that would normally prevent the execution of PHP code through user uploads.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-41539 extends beyond immediate code execution capabilities and can result in significant business disruption and data compromise. Organizations using this wedding planner application face potential exposure of sensitive user data, including personal information of wedding planners and their clients, which could lead to identity theft, fraud, or privacy violations. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that allows attackers to maintain long-term access to the system, enabling them to monitor user activities, steal confidential information, or use the compromised server for launching attacks against other systems. Additionally, the presence of such a vulnerability can result in regulatory compliance violations, particularly under data protection laws like GDPR or CCPA, where organizations are required to implement adequate security measures to protect personal data. The compromise of administrative user management functionality also undermines the trust and integrity of the entire application ecosystem, potentially affecting multiple users and their sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-41539 should focus on implementing comprehensive file upload security controls that align with industry best practices and security frameworks. Organizations must immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a secure version of the Wedding Planner application that addresses this vulnerability. In the interim, administrators should implement strict file validation mechanisms including whitelisting of allowed file extensions, rigorous MIME type checking, and content-based file analysis to prevent the upload of executable scripts. The application should enforce proper file naming conventions and store uploaded files outside the web root directory to prevent direct execution. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit administrative access to the /admin/users_add.php endpoint, while also monitoring for suspicious upload activities through intrusion detection systems. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application, ensuring that the security posture remains robust against evolving threats. The implementation of web application firewalls and security headers can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts.