PHP 5.3.17 Installation wlbsctrl.dll untrusted search path ⚔ [Disputed]

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in PHP 5.3.17. It has been classified as problematic. Impacted is an unknown function in the library wlbsctrl.dll of the component Installation. This manipulation causes untrusted search path. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2012-5381. In addition, an exploit is available. There is ongoing doubt regarding the real existence of this vulnerability.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in PHP 5.3.17 (Programming Language Software). It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown code block in the library wlbsctrl.dll of the component Installation. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a untrusted search path vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-426. The product searches for critical resources using an externally-supplied search path that can point to resources that are not under the product's direct control. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

** DISPUTED ** Untrusted search path vulnerability in the installation functionality in PHP 5.3.17, when installed in the top-level C:\ directory, might allow local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in the C:\PHP directory, which may be added to the PATH system environment variable by an administrator, as demonstrated by a Trojan horse wlbsctrl.dll file used by the "IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules" system service in Windows Vista SP1, Windows Server 2008 SP2, Windows 7 SP1, and Windows 8 Release Preview. NOTE: CVE disputes this issue because the unsafe PATH is established only by a separate administrative action that is not a default part of the PHP installation.

The weakness was presented 10/11/2012 (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at htbridge.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2012-5381 since 10/11/2012. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Attacking locally is a requirement. The requirement for exploitation is a single authentication. Technical details and also a public exploit are known. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1574 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

It is possible to download the exploit at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $5k-$25k. The real existence of this vulnerability is still doubted at the moment.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Exploit-DB (28130) and OSVDB (86172†). See VDB-62685, VDB-62684, VDB-62682 and VDB-62681 for similar entries. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Programming Language Software

Name

• PHP

Version

• 5.3.17

License

• open-source

Website

• Product: https://www.php.org/

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Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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