CVE-2024-1353 in PHPEMS
Summary
by MITRE • 02/09/2024
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in PHPEMS up to 1.0. Affected by this issue is the function index of the file app/weixin/controller/index.api.php. The manipulation of the argument picurl leads to deserialization. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-253226 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1353 represents a critical security flaw in PHPEMS version 1.0 and earlier, specifically within the weixin controller component. This issue manifests in the index.api.php file where the picurl parameter undergoes improper handling during the deserialization process, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates the potential for severe consequences including complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. The disclosure of exploitation techniques through VDB-253226 has accelerated the risk assessment process and highlighted the urgency of immediate remediation efforts.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper input validation and sanitization of the picurl argument within the index function of the weixin controller. When user-supplied data is directly processed through deserialization mechanisms without adequate security controls, it creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious payloads that execute arbitrary code on the target system. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-502 which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data as a primary attack vector. The flaw demonstrates poor secure coding practices where external inputs are not properly validated or escaped before being processed through potentially dangerous operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent access to affected systems. Attackers can leverage this deserialization flaw to perform remote code execution, manipulate system resources, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected environment. The weixin controller context suggests this vulnerability could impact systems that rely on wechat integration, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that depend on these communication channels for business operations. The public disclosure of exploitation methods through VDB-253226 means that threat actors can readily implement attacks without requiring advanced technical skills, increasing the overall threat landscape risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-1353 must prioritize immediate patching of the affected PHPEMS version 1.0 and earlier installations. Organizations should implement input validation controls that specifically sanitize all user-supplied parameters including picurl, ensuring that no malicious content can traverse through the deserialization process. Network-level protections should include firewall rules that restrict access to the vulnerable controller endpoints and implement monitoring for suspicious parameter patterns. The implementation of secure coding practices should include mandatory parameter validation, input sanitization, and the use of secure deserialization libraries that prevent arbitrary code execution. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other components that might be susceptible to similar deserialization attacks, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to deserialization attacks and code injection. Regular security updates and security awareness training for development teams can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future releases.